In the context of ancient Kerala's overseas trade, the term 'Yavanapriya', found in classical Sanskrit and Tamil texts, directly referred to which commodity extensively produced in the Chera kingdom?

💡 Solution & Explanation

In classical Sanskrit and Tamil texts, black pepper exported in massive quantities from the Chera kingdom was called yavanapriya, signifying that it was highly desired by Western Roman merchants. Other items like teak wood and sandalwood were also traded, but pepper constituted the most lucrative export commodity. Ancient overseas trade links with the Roman Empire are widely featured in antiquity syllabi for competitive examinations.