UPSC Prelims 2017 Q51: Medieval History – South Indian Dynasties
Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom?
- (a) Kakinada
- (b) Motupalli
- (c) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam)
- (d) Nelluru
Answer: (b) Motupalli
Explanation
Seaport of the Kakatiya kingdom
The Kakatiyas ruled from Warangal (Orugallu) in the 12th to 14th centuries.
Their chief seaport was Motupalli, on the Andhra coast.
| Fact about Motupalli | Detail |
|---|---|
| Inscription | Motupalli Abhaya Sasana of King Ganapatideva (about 1244) promised safety to foreign traders |
| Visitor | Marco Polo, in the reign of Rudramadevi |
| Trade | Fine cloth, diamonds and spices |
The other options:
| Option | Why wrong |
|---|---|
| (a) Kakinada | Rose as a port much later, in the colonial period |
| (c) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam) | Important under the Golconda Sultans and European companies |
| (d) Nelluru | An inland town, not a major seaport |
Answer: (b) Motupalli.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Kakinada became an important port only in the colonial period.
- (b) CORRECT. Motupalli was the very important seaport of the Kakatiya kingdom.
- (c) Incorrect. Machilipatnam rose under the Golconda Sultans, after the Kakatiyas.
- (d) Incorrect. Nelluru was not a major seaport of the Kakatiya kingdom.
Key point
Motupalli: chief Kakatiya seaport; Ganapatideva's Abhaya Sasana protected foreign traders; visited by Marco Polo in Rudramadevi's reign.
Remember
Kakatiya seaport = Motupalli (Abhaya Sasana).
Common mistakes
- Choosing Machilipatnam because it is the best-known old port of Andhra.
- Confusing the Kakatiyas (Warangal) with the later Golconda Sultans.
- Forgetting that Marco Polo wrote about this kingdom and its queen.
Exam tip
Kakatiya = Warangal + Motupalli + Rudramadevi + Marco Polo.
Sources
- Satish Chandra — History of Medieval India (South Indian kingdoms)
- Archaeological Survey of India — Motupalli pillar inscription of Ganapatideva