The Maldives Before the Suez Canal: A Maritime Hub in the Indian Ocean Introduction

Globe illustrates ancient trade routes, adorned with sailing ships, a compass, a Maldivian Dhowni and a spilled jar of cowrie shells, symbolizing the historical significance of global trade. Original Painting .

Prior to the Suez Canal's opening in 1869, the Cape Route—navigating around Africa's southern tip—was the main maritime route linking Europe and Asia. The Maldives, a double chain of coral atolls strategically situated in the Indian Ocean, were crucial to this global trade network. Their natural safe harbors, such as those in Huvadhoo, Addu, and Foalhavhi, Atoll served as essential stopovers for ships braving the Cape Route's challenging waters. The Maldives' importance as a maritime and trade hub before the Suez Canal is highlighted by their economic vitality, cultural exchanges, and strong trade ties with Sri Lankan ports like Galle and Godavaya. Drawing from historical records, including those of Ibn Battuta, and archaeological findings,

The Maldives and the Cape Route .

The Maldives' location, about 700 km southwest of Sri Lanka, made them a perfect stopover for ships navigating the Cape Route. The archipelago's atolls, especially Huvadhu Atoll, provided sheltered harbors ideal for safe anchorage, helping ships deal with the unpredictable currents and storms of the Indian Ocean. These natural harbors were both practical and economically important, allowing the Maldives to be a crucial point in the maritime trade network. Vessels traveling between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia depended on these stopovers for resupply, repairs, and trade, making the Maldives a bustling center of activity. The decrease in inhabited islands—from around 220 during Ibn Battuta’s visit in the 14th century to about 70 in the southern atolls at the height of the Cape Route's prominence—illustrates the dynamic nature of Maldivian society. Environmental factors, such as rising sea levels, and economic changes likely contributed to this shift. However, the remaining inhabited islands, especially those in Huvadhoo Atoll, continued to be lively trade and maritime centers. Their closeness to major shipping lanes ensured their ongoing importance, as Maldivian sailors and traders took advantage of their strategic location to engage with passing ships.

Cape route, Zanzibar Dhow

Maritime Trade and the Galle Connection

The Maldives' trade with the Sri Lankan port of Galle, historically known as Gimhathiththa and called Qali by Ibn Battuta, was fundamental to their economic success. Galle, a vibrant trading hub, acted as an entry point to the broader Indian Ocean trade routes, linking the Maldives to markets in South Asia, the Middle East, and further afield. The monsoon winds, specifically the northeast monsoon (November to April) and southwest monsoon (May to October), determined the pace of this trade. Maldivian vessels, including traditional dhonis and battelis, scheduled their journeys to Galle to align with these winds, ensuring safe and efficient travel. The Maldives were famous for their fisheries, producing high-quality dried fish products such as skipjack tuna, mackerel tuna, and bonito, locally known as hikimas. These fish were boiled, sun-dried, and exported to Galle, where they were highly prized. Alongside dried fish, Maldivians traded coir rope, coconut-based products, and cowrie shells, which were used as currency across Asia and Africa. In exchange, they obtained rice, spices, textiles, and other goods from Galle, promoting a strong economic and cultural exchange. This trade relationship, supported by the monsoon-driven maritime network, cemented the Maldives' position as a crucial link in the Indian Ocean economy.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives: Godavaya and the Maritime Silk Route

Beyond Galle, the Maldives maintained robust trade connections with other Sri Lankan ports, particularly Godavaya in the Kingdom of Ruhuna. Historically referred to as Taprobana by Greco-Roman traders and Serendib by Arab merchants, Sri Lanka was a major maritime force, with ports like Godavaya and Galle serving as crucial points on the Indian Ocean’s Silk Route. Godavaya, situated near present-day Hambantota, was an important port from at least the 2nd century BCE, as shown by archaeological digs between 2008 and 2012. These excavations revealed cowrie shells from the Maldives, Chinese ceramics, Roman coins, Sassanian glassware, and copper plates with Arabic inscriptions, confirming Godavaya’s role as a center for long-distance trade. The Maldives’ cowrie shells (Cypraea moneta), found in large quantities at Godavaya, were a key component of Indian Ocean trade, used as currency as far as West Africa and China. These shells, along with dried fish, coir, and ambergris, were essential Maldivian exports that complemented Sri Lanka’s trade in cinnamon, gems, and textiles. Godavaya’s protected harbor and advanced infrastructure, including a stone jetty and warehouse facilities, facilitated the exchange of these goods, integrating the Maldives into wider trade networks. Additionally, cultural ties between the two regions were strengthened by a shared Buddhist heritage before the Maldives’ conversion to Islam in the 12th century, with Sri Lankan monks possibly traveling via Godavaya to spread the faith.

The Spice Route and Dhow trade routes were important maritime trade networks.

Ibn Battuta’s Accounts and Cultural Exchange

The 14th-century Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta offers a vivid depiction of the Maldives’ significance in Indian Ocean trade. During his visit, he observed the archipelago’s economic vibrancy, detailing its trade in cowries, fish, and coconut products. He also emphasized the Maldives’ maritime culture, with adept sailors navigating monsoon-driven routes to ports like Galle. Ibn Battuta’s mention of Galle as Qali highlights its importance as a trade center, potentially even linking it to the biblical city of Tarshish, though this remains speculative. His accounts stress the Maldives’ integration into a cosmopolitan network of trade and cultural exchange, connecting Arab, Indian, and Southeast Asian merchants. The Maldives’ interactions with Galle and Godavaya also promoted cultural exchanges that influenced their society. The spread of Buddhism, followed by Islam, demonstrates the archipelago’s receptiveness to external influences. Maldivian texts, such as the Kitāb fi āthār Mīdhu al-qādimah by Allama Ahmed Shihabuddine and the copperplate Loamaafaanu records, document early settlers and trade networks, further evidencing the deep ties with Sri Lanka. These exchanges enriched Maldivian culture, blending local traditions with those of their trading partners.

Colonial Impact and the Maldives’ Legacy

The arrival of European colonial powers—Portuguese in 1502, followed by the Dutch and British—altered trade dynamics in the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese renamed Galle as a colonial port, and subsequent colonial powers focused trade in fortified ports like Colombo, reducing the significance of smaller hubs such as Godavaya. Despite these shifts, the Maldives maintained their importance as a maritime hub until the Suez Canal changed global trade routes. The archipelago’s natural harbors and monsoon-driven trade continued to support local economies, even as European powers transformed the region’s commercial landscape.

Summary

Before the Suez Canal, the Maldive Islands were a vital hub in the Indian Ocean’s maritime trade network. Their strategic location along the Cape Route, coupled with natural harbors like those in Huvadhoo Atoll, and Most southern parts of Maldives Foalhavahi made them indispensable stopovers for ships connecting Europe and Asia. The Maldives’ trade with Sri Lankan ports like Galle and Godavaya, facilitated by monsoon winds and traditional vessels, underscored their economic and cultural vitality. Archaeological evidence, such as cowrie shells at Godavaya, and historical accounts, including Ibn Battuta’s Rihla, highlight

The archipelago’s role in the Spice Route and Dhow routes was an important trade network within the maritime Silk Route.

The Maldives’ legacy as a resilient and adaptable maritime hub endures, reflecting their ability to connect distant cultures and economies in a dynamic and ever-changing world.