Context:
Historian MGS Narayan, a key force behind Muziris Heritage Project (MHP), was remembered in the Kerala State Assembly.
Muziris Port:
- Location – Malabar Coast of present-day Kerala
- Renowned for its spice trade, especially black pepper, often called black gold.
- Other items of export included semi-precious stones, ivory, pearls, etc.
- Connected South India with Persia, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean world, including Greek and Roman traders.
- Mentioned in Pliny the Elder’s writings and the author of Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
Ports of Ancient India:
- Gujarat – Lothal Port; Bharuch Port
- Kerala – Muziris Port; Calicut Port
- Tamil Nadu – Poompuhar Port; Tuticorin Port; Nirppeyarru; Tondi Port; Korkai Port; Pulicat Port
- Puducherry – Arikamedu Port
- Mumbai – Sopara Port
- Andhra Pradesh – Motupalli; Machilipatnam
- West Bengal – Tamralipti
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) capital cities
(b) ports
(c) centres of iron-and-steel making
(d) shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Answer: (b)