Structural Evolution of the Indian Ocean Spice Trade Network: Core Nodes of Goa, Malacca, and Hormuz

Han Yang ()
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Han Yang: China West Normal University

A chapter in Proceedings of the 2026 11th International Conference on Social Sciences and Economic Development (ICSSED 2026), 2026, pp 265-281 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The Indian Ocean spice trade was a cornerstone of early maritime commerce, linking production centers in Southeast Asia with markets in South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. This study examines the structural evolution of the trade network through a comparative analysis of three key port nodes: Hormuz, Goa, and Malacca. Adopting a trade network perspective, the paper explores the multifunctional roles of ports as logistical hubs, commercial centers, and instruments of political control. Findings indicate that the spice trade developed a multi-layered, interconnected network characterized by regional circuits, staged commodity flows, and dynamic interdependencies among ports. Over time, the network evolved from decentralized regional systems to an integrated maritime framework and eventually contributed to the early global trade system. The analysis highlights the critical influence of port nodes in facilitating trade, coordinating commercial activities, and shaping the spatial organization of pre-modern global commerce. This study enriches the understanding of Indian Ocean economic history and provides insights for comparative analyses of historical trade networks.

Keywords: Indian Ocean trade; spice trade; port cities; maritime networks; Goa; Malacca; Hormuz; early globalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:advbcp:978-94-6239-701-9_29

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DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6239-701-9_29

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