India’s vast trade influence in countries around the Indian Ocean was at its peak in the 16th–17th centuries. Many researchers credit this to India’s unmatched maritime capability during that time. The much-acclaimed ‘spice trade’ flourished particularly with countries in Eastern Africa, from Djibouti in the north to Mozambique in the south. The arrival of the East India Company in the 17th century diminished India’s maritime strength and impacted trade adversely.