The whole Arabian Gulf region emerged as the most important trade centre linking between the West and the East, during the time of the Persian Sassanid Empire in the 3rd century A.D. Cargoes of copper, spices, sandalwood, teak, black wood, etc. arriving from the East were exchanged for shipments of purple dye, clothing, pearls, dates, gold and silver. Qatar played a pre-eminent role in that commercial activity contributing at least two of these commodities to the Sassanid trade – purple dye and precious pearls.