Give a historical account of different routes to India from the western part of the world. How far is the position of India strategically important for World Trade ​

India's strategic location at the head of the Indian ocean gives it a great strategic importance and helps in maintaining contact with the rest of the world. It helps India to keep a close contact with West Asia, Europe, West Africa from the western coast and Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.

2018 means 2018 ce or common era

there have been other eras too including bce, which included way more years.