Final answer:
The trade through the waterways between the Indian and Pacific Ocean included various commodities, controlled by empires like Srivijaya, with Europeans later seeking direct maritime access.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trade that passed through the waterways between the Indian and Pacific Ocean was extensive and varied over many centuries. Goods like precious stones, marine shells, ivory, glassware, spices, silk, and cotton flowed along these routes. Indian Ocean trade evolved over time, involving ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, as well as the empire of Srivijaya, which controlled the Malacca Strait, a critical choke point.
Moreover, European nations such as Portugal and Spain sought maritime routes to access the wealth of the Indian Ocean, bypassing land routes controlled by Arab traders. Maritime trade and control over strategic waterways like the Malacca and Palk Straits were central to the prosperity of empires and the development of global trade networks.