Incense and Pepper: Ports and Trade of the Red Sea in Late Antiquity

Walter Ward - University of California, Los Angeles

The past ten years have seen an explosion of new information on the Red Sea, including archaeological projects (the excavations of Aila, Berenike, and Myos Hormos) and critical literary analysis (such as the Periplus Maris Erythraei). Unfortunately, the most recent studies (including Young's Rome's Eastern Trade) focus on Rome's rule up to the 3rd century. There is no synthesis on the Roman Red Sea for late antiquity. I hope to somewhat remedy this situation.

The crisis period and subsequent restoration of power by Diocletian and Constantine mark a distinct break in the history of the Red Sea. Myos Hormos was abandoned, Coptos was destroyed, Berenike recovers but then declines, and Clysma and Aila suddenly prosper. With the restoration of imperial authority, trade in the Red Sea once again flourishes, but its nature is very different.

First, I will present a brief description of the ports of the Roman Red Sea from Constantine to the Arab conquests: Aila, Berenike, Clysma, and the mysterious Iotabe. Second, I will briefly discuss the nature of Red Sea trade in this period. Finally, I will argue that the major ports of the Red Sea shift north because of security reasons, and that the Romans lose control of the shipping routes to India, being replaced by the Axumites.