The spread of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices originating in Southern Asia fundamentally reshaped the world economy and global interactions well before European expansion. This diffusion, influencing areas as diverse as mathematics, navigation, and agriculture, provides a crucial pre-cursor to understanding subsequent historical developments.
These Southern Asian innovations spurred significant advances across Afro-Eurasia. The adoption of mathematical concepts like the decimal system and the use of zero revolutionized computation and scientific understanding. Maritime technologies, including advancements in shipbuilding and navigational techniques, facilitated trade and exploration. Agricultural practices, such as the cultivation of new crops and irrigation methods, enhanced food production and supported population growth.
