Syllabus: GS1/ History
Context
- Recent underwater excavations off Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam) in Tamil Nadu have strengthened evidence of the port city’s participation in long-distance maritime trade.
About
- The discovery of a West Asian torpedo-jar fragment and glazed pottery associated with ancient Iran provides evidence of Poompuhar’s maritime links with the Persian Gulf and West Asia.
- These findings suggest that ancient Tamilakam was integrated into wider Indian Ocean trade networks, connecting it with West Asia, the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia.
About Poompuhar
- Poompuhar was an important early Chola port city located at the mouth of the Cauvery River, where it meets the Bay of Bengal.
- The city was traditionally divided into Maruvurppakkam near the seashore, Pattinappakkam towards the west and Nalangadi between the two.
- Archaeological evidence suggests that the settlement existed at least from the 5th–4th century BCE.
- Sangam and post-Sangam literature describe it as a major commercial centre, attracting merchants from different parts of India and Southeast Asia.
- The port was also connected to other Indian maritime centres, such as Tamralipti and Palur.
Maritime Trade of Other Major Dynasties
- The Mauryan Empire developed extensive trade networks and maintained links with ports on both the eastern and western coasts.
- Arthashastra contains references to navadhyaksha, an official associated with waterways and shipping.
- Satavahanas: They played an important role in the Deccan–western coast trade, with ports such as Kalyan, Sopara and Bharukachcha (Bharuch) facilitating commerce with the Roman world.
- Cheras: The Muziris region on the Malabar Coast became an important centre for Roman and West Asian trade.
- The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea and Sangam literature provide evidence of maritime commerce involving the Chera realm.
- Pandyas: The Pandyan kingdom participated in Indian Ocean trade through ports such as Korkai, which was particularly associated with the pearl fisheries of the Gulf of Mannar.
- Western Kshatrapas: Their control over parts of western India enabled participation in the Arabian Sea trade, particularly through ports in Gujarat and the western Deccan.
- Pallavas: From the eastern coast, the Pallavas maintained maritime and cultural links with Southeast Asia, particularly regions of present-day Cambodia and parts of mainland Southeast Asia.
Maritime Trade as a Driver of Ancient India’s Prosperity
- Economic growth: Overseas trade generated wealth, customs revenue and expanded markets for Indian goods.
- Urbanisation: Ports such as Poompuhar, Muziris and Bharuch developed into prosperous commercial centres.
- Craft production: Foreign demand encouraged specialised production of textiles, spices, beads, ceramics and metal goods.
- State revenues: Rulers benefited through port taxes, customs duties and regulation of trade.
- Cultural exchange: Trade facilitated the movement of religions, art, languages, ideas and technologies across the Indian Ocean.
- Technological advances: Maritime commerce encouraged improvements in shipbuilding, navigation and knowledge of monsoon winds.
Other ancient Indian ports
- Muziris on the Malabar coast was associated with trade across the Arabian Sea and contacts with the Roman world.
- Arikamedu near Puducherry has yielded evidence of Indo-Roman commercial connections.
- Tamralipti in present-day West Bengal was an important eastern maritime centre.
- Bharuch in Gujarat connected western India with the Arabian Sea trade network.
Source: IE
Previous article
News In Short 25-09-2026
