Next time you travel across Thane's modern landscape, stuck in traffic or waiting for a train, take a moment to imagine a dramatically different era. Long before our crowded trains and roads connected it to the world, Thane was primarily known as a vibrant and prosperous port, a critical gateway that linked the subcontinent with distant lands. About a thousand years ago, the Thane coast was full of activity. Smaller boats dotted the shore, while few larger ships awaited in the open sea. One vessel prepared to sail to Africa, laden with Konkan-grown rice. Another had just arrived from Iran, bringing horses. A third had navigated from the Malabar coast, delivering precious spices like mace, cloves, and black pepper. The docks were a melting pot of travelers, traders, and sailors from Africa, Arabia, and China, mingling with local Hindu, Muslim, and Parsi merchants. Negotiations in a Gujarati dialect filled the air. This isn't a fantasy; it's a snapshot of middle age Thane, t...