A Study of Cultural Relations between India and Arabian Peninsula up to 12th century CE

Abstract

Interaction of the Indian civilization with the ancient world throughout the ages was newlinebased on several important factors. India has a strategic geographical location in South Asia. newlineIts territory extends southward into the Indian Ocean, in the Arabian Sea to the southwest newlineand the Bay of Bengal to the southeast. Located in the middle of the ancient cultures, it newlineconnects the East with West and overlooks the major international sea routes. By the virtue newlineof its long peninsular coastline, India has always been well connected with outside world newlinethrough maritime trade and commerce. Besides this, due to the diversity of the natural newlineenvironment, India has always been a significant source of raw materials and finished goods. newlineFurthermore, India had been rich in agricultural products, which could be of value to other newlinecontemporary cultures. India had trade relations with ancient civilizations including the newlineArabian Peninsula, which is located to the west of India. The Arabian Sea is located between newlineIndia and the Arabian Peninsula and facilitated the close cultural interaction between these newlinetwo ancient cultures as it provided direct contact through sea routes without any geographical newlineimpediment. newline