Indian Ocean Exchange in Early Modern Yemen | Nancy Um

E453 | The Red Sea port of Mocha enjoyed ties with London, Amsterdam, Surat, and Jakarta in the eighteenth century. But not all of the ivory, porcelain, and coffee that passed through Mocha was sold for a profit. In this episode, Nancy Um brings the eye of an art historian to the history of exchange and diplomacy in the early modern Indian Ocean, focusing on the ceremonies and gift exchanges that legitimated and lubricated English and Dutch trade with Yemen’s Qasimi rulers. Gift-giving was far more than an annoyance to the major overseas merchants in Mocha. We explore how “promiscuous” objects became valuable beyond their price tag, allowing merchants to communicate across linguistic, religious, and cultural lines. More at https://www.ottomanhistorypodcast.com/2020/03/um.html Nancy Um is an art historian of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Peninsula, with a focus on trade and cross-cultural exchange in the early modern era. She is professor art history and associate dean for faculty development and inclusion at Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, Binghamton University. Zoe Griffith is Assistant Professor of History at Baruch College, CUNY and completed her Ph.D. at Brown University in 2017. Her research focuses on political economy, law, and governance in the Ottoman Arab provinces from the 17th to the 19th centuries. She records mainly in New York City. CREDITS Episode No. 453 Release Date: 6 March 2020 Recording Location: Istanbul Audio editing by Emily Neumeier Music: Big Road of Burravoe by Zé Trigueiros Bibliography courtesy of Nancy Um available at https://www.ottomanhistorypodcast.com/2020/03/um.html