Final answer:
The Indian Ocean Trade Network interconnected East Africa, India, the Middle East, and East and Southeast Asia, trading respective regional goods such as gold, ivory, spices, and textiles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indian Ocean Trade Network and Regional Contributions
The Indian Ocean Trade Network was a vast maritime web which connected various regions, each offering distinctive goods. The network included areas such as India, East Africa, the Middle East, and East and Southeast Asia.
India's Contributions
India, notably the western ports like those in the Sultanate of Gujarat, was central to the network. It contributed goods such as textiles, spices, and gemstones, productivity enriched further by the arrival of European traders and the influence of dynasties like the Mughals and Marathas.
East African Goods
East Africa, identified by its prosperous Swahili city-states, provided commodities such as ivory, animal skins, rhinoceros' horns, and gold—prized goods that were traded for luxurious silks, glassware, and various tools.
The Swahili Coast
The cultural blending on the Swahili coast not only connected it with the Middle East but also with distant regions like China and Southeast Asia. This facilitated exchange between the east and the peoples of Africa, creating a region of vibrant cultural and economic exchange.