History • Ancient IndiaHard
Consider the following statements regarding the socio-economic and mercantile activities of ancient Tamilakam as recorded in Sangam literature and classical accounts: 1. The Roman trade with South India involved massive export of gold and silver bullion in exchange for spices, textiles, and precious gems from the Chera, Chola, and Pandya territories. 2. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea provides detailed descriptions of Tamil ports such as Muziris and Korkai, highlighting their bustling maritime commerce and warehouse facilities. 3. The gold coins brought by Roman merchants were extensively melted down and reissued by Tamil monarchs into indigenous currency without any circulation of foreign coins in local markets. Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only✓ Correct Answer
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
💡 Solution & Explanation
Statements one and two are correct because Roman trade with ancient Tamilakam is well-documented through archaeological finds of Roman denarii and descriptions in classical texts like the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea authored by an anonymous Greek merchant. Statement three is incorrect because Roman coins circulated widely as bullion or currency in their original form alongside indigenous punch marked and dynastic coins across various trade centers. Hoards of Roman coins discovered at multiple sites in Tamil Nadu confirm direct commercial contact with the Mediterranean world.
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