Maritime exchanges in the Indian Ocean present a fascinating network of intricate relationships in which trade and cultural contacts are intertwined. Ariane de Saxcé explores the complex links between the commercial ties and the artistic interactions that resulted from them.
The study is based on a solid foundation of material culture analysis, grounded in the quantification of archaeological artefacts. This method enables the author to challenge common ideas on the importance of trade in exotic goods and to reassess the impact of these exchanges on Indian economy. This re-evaluation of the role of local actors highlights the agency of South Asians and their involvement in the dynamism of Indian Ocean networks. In the specific case of cultural transfers, this approach allows the author to emphasise different modes of creation and inspiration based on local factors. The relationship to imported Mediterranean objects differs in the Deccan, in the Tamil region or in Sri Lanka, giving way to cross-fertilisation processes and borrowings dependent on the local cultural context. The interconnections between local, regional, and transregional networks at sea, on rivers, and on land are examined using Correspondence Analysis and Social Network Analysis. This perspective reveals new areas of research, as for example the close links between Sri Lanka/India and East Africa, paving the way for future advances in this field.