The Indian Ocean trade network touched three different regions the east African coast, the southern portion of the Arabian Peninsula and the west coast of India. Each of these regions had their own language and political units. Much intermarriage among the residents of the different regions making up the Indian Ocean trade network greatly contributing to the mixing of cultures. Similar to the trans-Saharan rulers survived off of the taxed goods from the overland trade route the sultans of the regions within the Indian Ocean trade network survived off taxing the maritime trades