Land and sea routes were used by travelers who practiced Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism.

Local populations “absorbed” elements of the new cultures they encountered and travelers brought back to their countries of origin with them elements of local cultures which thus spread throughout this vast region.

The Indian Ocean has been known since ancient times.

 The fascination of the Indian Ocean quickly appears: it is the Ocean of all riches.

Alexander’s armies crossed it on their return from India. At the time of Cleopatra, the Egyptians brought back pearls and precious stones.

From the Middle Ages, at the time of the Crusades, it became one of the silk, spice and perfume routes. During the Renaissance, via the Cap de Bonne It is the royal road to the riches and splendors of the Eastern Coast of Africa and the marvelous islands of Zanzibar, the Comoros, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius and beyond. beyond India and the Far East.

Conquerors, missionaries, adventurers, merchants, traffickers go there to the rhythm of the monsoons. Soon after the Spaniards and the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, the English created their famous East India companies which founded counters like those of Zanzibar or Diego Suarez.