Consider the following statements regarding the geographical and political features of ancient Kerala during the Sangam age: 1. The Periyar River basin formed the core political heartland of the ancient Chera kingdom with its capital located at Vanji. 2. The ancient Tamil term 'Muziri' denoted a specialized administrative unit responsible for collecting maritime customs duties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because Sangam literature and epigraphical evidence confirm that the Periyar River valley was the nucleus of the early Chera realm, ruled from Vanji near modern Karur or Kodungallur. Statement 2 is incorrect because Muziri refers to the famous port city rather than a customs administrative term. The Sangam polity was organized into geographical zones known as thinai, reflecting specific ecological landscapes.