Malao (Ancient Greek: Μαλαὼ)[1][2] was an ancient proto-Somali port in present-day Somaliland. The town was situated on the site of what later became the city of Berbera. It was a key trading member involved in the Red Sea-Indian Ocean commerce in the early centuries CE. The town also maintained an important monetary market for merchants exchanging goods in the currencies of the Roman Empire.[3]
"After Avalites there is another market-town, better than this, called Malao, distant a sail of about eight hundred stadia. The anchorage is an open roadstead, sheltered by a spit running out from the east. Here the natives are more peaceable. There are imported into this place the things already mentioned, and many tunics, cloaks from Arsinoe, dressed and dyed; drinking-cups, sheets of soft copper in small quantity, iron, and gold and silvercoin, not much. There are exported from these places myrrh, a little frankincense, (that known as far-side), the harder cinnamon, duaca, Indian copal and macir, which are imported into Arabia; and slaves, but rarely."
Other than Arabia, goods were also purchased and transported to the Greek, Roman and Egyptian empires.[5] Malao gained its high level of trade from its nexus position, by being the closest African port to Arabia and the more peaceful nature of the city, as compared to other potential trade areas.[6]
^Ray, Himanshu Prabha (2003). The Archaeology of Seafaring in Ancient South Asia. Cambridge University Press. p. 209. ISBN0521011094.
^"Internet History Sourcebooks". sourcebooks.fordham.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
^Dumper, Michael (2007). Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN978-1-57607-919-5.
^McLaughlin, Raoul (2014-09-11). The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean: The Ancient World Economy and the Kingdoms of Africa, Arabia and India. Pen and Sword. ISBN978-1-78346-381-7.
January 29, 2023
malao, this, article, about, historic, city, modern, city, berbera, other, uses, disambiguation, ancientlocation, berbera, somalilandcity, state, existed, century, ancient, greek, Μαλαὼ, ancient, proto, somali, port, present, somaliland, town, situated, site, . This article is about the historic city For the modern city see Berbera For other uses see Malao disambiguation AncientMalaoLocation Berbera SomalilandCity state existed 1st century ADMalao Ancient Greek Malaὼ 1 2 was an ancient proto Somali port in present day Somaliland The town was situated on the site of what later became the city of Berbera It was a key trading member involved in the Red Sea Indian Ocean commerce in the early centuries CE The town also maintained an important monetary market for merchants exchanging goods in the currencies of the Roman Empire 3 History and trade EditMain article Maritime history of Somalia The ancient port city of Malao was positioned in the historic Somali city of Berbera It is mentioned in the 1st century CE Periplus of the Erythraean Sea After Avalites there is another market town better than this called Malao distant a sail of about eight hundred stadia The anchorage is an open roadstead sheltered by a spit running out from the east Here the natives are more peaceable There are imported into this place the things already mentioned and many tunics cloaks from Arsinoe dressed and dyed drinking cups sheets of soft copper in small quantity iron and gold and silver coin not much There are exported from these places myrrh a little frankincense that known as far side the harder cinnamon duaca Indian copal and macir which are imported into Arabia and slaves but rarely Chap 8 4 Other than Arabia goods were also purchased and transported to the Greek Roman and Egyptian empires 5 Malao gained its high level of trade from its nexus position by being the closest African port to Arabia and the more peaceful nature of the city as compared to other potential trade areas 6 See also EditMundus Sarapion Opone Mosylon Essina HannassaReferences Edit Periploys ths Ery8ras 8alasshs Biki8hkh el wikisource org in Greek Retrieved 2022 05 29 ToposText topostext org Retrieved 2022 05 29 Ray Himanshu Prabha 2003 The Archaeology of Seafaring in Ancient South Asia Cambridge University Press p 209 ISBN 0521011094 Internet History Sourcebooks sourcebooks fordham edu Retrieved 2022 05 29 Dumper Michael 2007 Cities of the Middle East and North Africa A Historical Encyclopedia ABC CLIO ISBN 978 1 57607 919 5 McLaughlin Raoul 2014 09 11 The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean The Ancient World Economy and the Kingdoms of Africa Arabia and India Pen and Sword ISBN 978 1 78346 381 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malao amp oldid 1112013326, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
