Ramisht

Cross-cultural contact has many benefits, but some of the individuals who profit most are traders. They capitalize off interactions between communities and cultures, increasing their own wealth. Ramisht was a Persian merchant who turned trading into a huge profit.

Much of what we know about Ramisht comes from the Arabic historian Ibn alAthir, who describes Ramisht as "one of the merchants who traveled to India and had great wealth." Ramisht traded between Aden and India, and operated both shipping and trading businesses, as did most merchants of the time. He owned multiple ships, and sold his merchandise on land.

Ramisht made so much money, he was able to replace the Ka'ba cover in Mecca, the Islamic capital. He used only the most exquisite and expensive cloth, and his cover cost eighteen thousand dinars. In modern conversion, that's only about fifteen and a half dollars, but in 1138 that was a fortune. In addition to the cover, Ramisht also donated a gold waterspout to the city. In fact, Ramisht was so generous with his wealth that he was known as "the benefactor of Mecca."

Trade between Aden and India, as well as other places, offered merchants the chance to become wealthy. This cross-cultural contact provided an immediate and personal change in the lives of traders, instead of the broad, long-term changes usually perceived.

Source: Aden & the Indian Ocean Trade: 150 years in the Life of a Medieval Arabian Port by Roxani Eleni Margariti