Indian High Sea

The open sea west of Malabar faces a coast whose ports traded spices across the Indian Ocean. Kozhikode, Kollam and Cochin received merchants from Arabia and other distant shores. In 1498 Vasco da Gama reached Kozhikode by the route around Africa, bringing Portuguese ships into this established trading world. Dutch, French and British companies later sought their own places in the commerce of the coast.