ABSTRACT.This contribution explores the various ways in which the maritime movement of migrants, traders, diplomats and pilgrims throughout the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas brought about profound changes. Their voyages brought astronomical discoveries, new methods for the reckoning of time, improved shipping and sailing techniques, new geographical knowledge, new languages and scripts. They also introduced foreign religious beliefs and practices which enhanced political ideology with new developments in social organization and government.

RÉSUMÉ.Cette contribution explore comment et de quelles manières le transport maritime des migrants, marchands, diplomates et pèlerins partout sur l'océan Indien et les mers avoisinantes a entraîné de profonds changements dans cette région. Ces voyageurs ont en effet apporté de nombreuses découvertes astronomiques et de nouvelles méthodes de mesure du temps, suscité d'importants progrès dans les techniques de navigation, et rendu possible le développement de nouvelles connaissances géographiques et l'importation de nouvelles langues et écritures. L'introduction de croyances et pratiques religieuses étrangères a également permis de réformer l'idéologie politique en insufflant une nouvelle organisation sociale et gouvernementale.

From South East Asia to Rome, from Sumer to the Hindu Valley, foreign ideas travelled throughout the Indian seas at uneven speed, bringing about changes in the organization of several different aspects of life. It is at times difficult to attribute the invention of an idea to a specific people, because cross-cultural fertilization was frequent. Ideas travelled by land and by water as travellers often used both routes in their voyages. The novelties that reached distant peoples and introduced local innovations range from astronomical discoveries to reckoning of time, shipping and sailing techniques, new geographical knowledge, use of specific languages and scripts, exchange of sacred gifts, religious beliefs and practices which enhanced political ideology with new developments in social organization and government, the use of diplomacy to solve conflicts, new perceptions of luxury, financial practices, metallurgical techniques and alchemy, artistic manners of representation including literary style and performing techniques in music, drama and dance.