Eurasian Trade Sees a Resurgence

The expansion of the Tang dynasty into central Asia and increasing trade with the Byzantine empire from the seventh century CE onwards paves the way for the reinvigoration of overland trade. The invasion of Persia by the Rashidun caliphate leads to the end of the Sassanid empire and a migration of Parsi people to the western coast of India, most notably present-day Gujarat. Muslim expansion also unifies Egypt, the Levant and Mesopotamia into a single commercial unit. Simultaneously, Muslim Arab merchants are active on the Malabar Coast during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. This further strengthens the region’s diasporic ties to West Asia and allows for an increase in exchanges.