Archaeology of Sinbad the Sailor

In this session, the presenter will address one of the most important and least understood periods in the development of the ancient “global economy.” About 1,200 years ago, at a time when the early Islamic empire of the Abbasids in the Middle East and Tang China were the two global superpowers, daring merchant seafarers began—for the first time in history—sailing from the Middle East to China. These individuals, about whom we know almost nothing, are exemplified through Sinbad the Sailor, from the famous story of “One Thousand and One Nights.” The speaker will explore what we know about these ancient sailors and their world-changing adventures using the archaeological evidence that still litters the shores of the Indian Ocean.