Consider the following statements regarding the territorial divisions of the early historic Chera kingdom as recorded in Sangam literature: 1. The core capital of the early Chera rulers was located at Vanji, identified with modern Karur on the banks of the Amaravati river. 2. Tondi and Musiri served as the twin western coastal emporiums facilitating international maritime commerce. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Sangam literature establishes that the early Cheras governed from Vanji (Karur) and commanded vital western outlets such as Musiri and Tondi on the Malabar coastline. Both statements are historically validated by classical Tamil poetry and archaeological excavations across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These emporiums handled extensive exports of black pepper, beryl, and ivory in exchange for Roman amphorae and gold. The political geography of the Tamilakam region heavily depended on these river valley inland capitals and coastal port pairs.