briefly explain the costal trade in ancient tamilnadu
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Interestingly, Enayam port is not the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu. The state, as early as the 3rd century BC, had more than 16 such ports — between Chennai and Tirunelveli — that helped it maintain direct maritime links with China, Egypt, parts of Europe and Southeast Asian countries. Archaeologists say ancient Tamil literature and excavations provide evidence about the existence of such ports that played a major role in overseas trade in the past.
Secretary of Madurai-based Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research, C Santhalingam, says trading activities by Tamils through sea route can be traced to the Sangam period (3rd century BC — 3rd century AD). “The historical coastal town of Kaveripoompattinam (Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district) recorded import of horses from Arab countries and finished goods from Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The port was also a major centre for export of spices from south India,” he adds. References to Kaveripoompattinam are found in Tamil literary works like ‘Pattinappalai’ and ‘Silapathikaram’.Santhalingam says evidence about ship maintenance units and dock yards in many parts of the state point towards TN’s ancient maritime trade with the rest of the world. Excavations indicated the existence of a port at Azhagankulam in Ramanathapuram district, while Tamil scripts mentioned about a port at Korkai in Tuticorin district. The Pallavas developed Mamallapuram as a vital seaport in the north. Mylapore in Chennai, Kovalam and Sathurangapattinam (Sadras) in Kancheepuram district and Kulasekarapattinam and Veerapandianpattinam in Tuticorin district were active ports during the Chola and Pandiya rule. Ports came in handy to Chola emperors for naval expeditions to Southeast Asian nations. Irukanthurai in Tirunelveli district is the latest in the list of active ports that have disappeared. “Arikamedu at Puducherry is another ancient port,” Santhalingam adds.
eveloped as artificial facilities along the coastline, the ancient ports were situated on river mouths. According to P D Balaji, professor and head of the department of ancient history and archeology, University of Madras, the ancient ports were built near river mouths to facilitate easy entry of vessels into the mainland. “Vessels in the past were not as big as they are today. River mouths were the right access points for safe docking,” he says.
Another key navigation route in the south was through the west coast in the Arabian Sea. Balaji says Romans sailed through the sea, disembarking at ‘Musuri’ port in Kerala. “Thereafter, foreign traders travelled till Coimbatore and split to different directions of Tamil Nadu from there. This is why several Roman coins and artefacts were discovered in the ‘Kongu’ region of TN,” he says. Artefacts like huge pots, used by Romans to transport wine, were also unearthed during the excavations, he adds. “However, the ports vanished after the civilisation perished.”
Secretary of Madurai-based Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research, C Santhalingam, says trading activities by Tamils through sea route can be traced to the Sangam period (3rd century BC — 3rd century AD). “The historical coastal town of Kaveripoompattinam (Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district) recorded import of horses from Arab countries and finished goods from Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The port was also a major centre for export of spices from south India,” he adds. References to Kaveripoompattinam are found in Tamil literary works like ‘Pattinappalai’ and ‘Silapathikaram’.Santhalingam says evidence about ship maintenance units and dock yards in many parts of the state point towards TN’s ancient maritime trade with the rest of the world. Excavations indicated the existence of a port at Azhagankulam in Ramanathapuram district, while Tamil scripts mentioned about a port at Korkai in Tuticorin district. The Pallavas developed Mamallapuram as a vital seaport in the north. Mylapore in Chennai, Kovalam and Sathurangapattinam (Sadras) in Kancheepuram district and Kulasekarapattinam and Veerapandianpattinam in Tuticorin district were active ports during the Chola and Pandiya rule. Ports came in handy to Chola emperors for naval expeditions to Southeast Asian nations. Irukanthurai in Tirunelveli district is the latest in the list of active ports that have disappeared. “Arikamedu at Puducherry is another ancient port,” Santhalingam adds.
eveloped as artificial facilities along the coastline, the ancient ports were situated on river mouths. According to P D Balaji, professor and head of the department of ancient history and archeology, University of Madras, the ancient ports were built near river mouths to facilitate easy entry of vessels into the mainland. “Vessels in the past were not as big as they are today. River mouths were the right access points for safe docking,” he says.
Another key navigation route in the south was through the west coast in the Arabian Sea. Balaji says Romans sailed through the sea, disembarking at ‘Musuri’ port in Kerala. “Thereafter, foreign traders travelled till Coimbatore and split to different directions of Tamil Nadu from there. This is why several Roman coins and artefacts were discovered in the ‘Kongu’ region of TN,” he says. Artefacts like huge pots, used by Romans to transport wine, were also unearthed during the excavations, he adds. “However, the ports vanished after the civilisation perished.”
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