At sea, sailors could use these compasses to figure out which way they were headed, and they could use them to point their ship wherever they wanted to go. Although merchants had sailed these waters before, the compass made their travels much easier and faster, thus increasing their efficiency in trade.

One major change was the increased involvement of the Europeans in the commerce of the Indian Ocean over time. (one continuity)The Indian Ocean trade was made easier by the monsoon winds that circulated between Asia and the Eastern coast which reduced travel times, and produced favorable wind currents.

• Buddhism was especially successful in attracting merchants as converts.
• Hinduism also spread along the Silk Roads, primarily along the sea lanes.

What were the causes and effects of the growth of networks of exchange after 1200 in the Indian Ocean, and how did environmental knowledge support that expansion? Causes: The Indian Ocean Basin, the spread of Islam, and the increased demand for specialized products all caused the growth of trading networks.

The Indian Ocean is bounded by Iran, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to the north; the Malay Peninsula, the Sunda Islands of Indonesia, and Australia to the east; Antarctica to the south; and Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the west.

Australia, Indonesia, and India are the three countries with the longest shorelines and exclusive economic zones. The continental shelf makes up 15% of the Indian Ocean.

38 countries

The largest island in the Indian Ocean is?

• Madagascar.
• Sri Lanka.
• Sumatra.
• Maldives.

Maldives

The 11 Most Stunning Indian Ocean Islands

• Andaman Islands. An archipelago in the Bay of Bengal region of the Indian Ocean on the eastern waters of India, Andaman Islands form the northern counterpart of the Nicobar Islands.
• Lakshadweep Islands.
• Seychelles.
• Langkawi Islands.
• Christmas Island.
• Sri Lanka.
• Zanzibar.
• Maldives.