UPSC Prelims 2023 Q43: Ancient History – Trade & Economy
- (a) capital cities
- (b) ports
- (c) centres of iron - and - steel making
- (d) shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Answer: (b) ports
Explanation
Ancient South India — Korkai, Poompuhar, Muchiri
All three were major ports of ancient South India during the Sangam age:
| Port | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Korkai | Tambraparni River mouth, Tamil Nadu | Ancient Pandya capital + pearl fishing centre — earliest port in South India |
| Poompuhar (Kaveripattinam) | Kaveri River mouth, Tamil Nadu | Capital and chief port of the Cholas — described in *Silappadikaram* (Tamil epic) |
| Muchiri (Muziri / Muziris) | Near Periyar River, Kerala | Thriving Indo-Roman trade port — hub for spices, pepper, cotton export to Rome |
All three were Sangam-age ports integral to South India's ancient maritime trade with the Mediterranean, Arabia, and Southeast Asia.
Answer: (b) ports.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Korkai and Poompuhar were occasionally royal residences but are primarily known as ports — Korkai was a Pandya port, not a dynastic capital in the conventional sense.
- (b) CORRECT. All three — Korkai, Poompuhar, and Muchiri — were major ancient ports of South India engaged in maritime trade.
- (c) Incorrect. Iron-and-steel making centres in ancient South India included Kodumanal and Konasamudra — not these coastal trading ports.
- (d) Incorrect. These were commercial maritime trade centres, not Jain religious shrines.
Key point
Korkai, Poompuhar (Kaveripattinam), Muchiri (Muziris) = ancient South Indian PORTS. Sangam age maritime trade hubs. Muchiri = Roman trade. Poompuhar = Chola port, described in Silappadikaram. Korkai = Pandya port + pearl fishing.
Remember
Korkai, Poompuhar (Kaveripattinam), and Muchiri (Muziris) were all ancient ports of South India — major trade centres during the Sangam age engaged in commerce with Rome, Arabia, and Southeast Asia.
Common mistakes
- Confusing ports with capitals — while Poompuhar was a Chola capital, all three are primarily known as ports in historical and literary sources.
- Not knowing Muziris — it is one of the most referenced ancient Indian ports in Greco-Roman texts (Pliny, Periplus of the Erythraean Sea).
- Placing iron-steel centres here — Kodumanal in Tamil Nadu was an iron-working site; these three are coastal trading ports.
Exam tip
Ancient South Indian ports: Korkai (Pandya+pearls), Poompuhar (Chola+Kaveri), Muchiri/Muziris (Kerala+Roman trade). All Sangam-age. All mentioned in classical Tamil literature. UPSC repeatedly tests these port names.
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 History — Early Societies and Trade Networks
- Periplus of the Erythraean Sea — Ancient Indian Ports