With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
- A.capital cities
- B.ports
- C.centres of iron-and-steel making
- D.shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, ports. All three were busy harbours of the Sangam age, through which the Tamil kingdoms traded with Rome, West Asia and South-East Asia.
Korkai, near the mouth of the Tamraparni river, was the chief port of the Pandyas and was famous for its pearl fishery. Poompuhar, also called Kaveripattinam, stood where the Kaveri meets the sea and was the port of the Cholas; the epic Silappatikaram describes its markets. Muchiri, the Muziris of Greek and Roman writers, was the port of the Cheras on the Kerala coast, from where pepper, pearls and fine cloth were shipped west in return for Roman gold coins.
A is wrong: the capitals were Madurai (Pandya), Uraiyur (Chola) and Vanji (Chera), not these towns.
C is wrong: none of them is known as a centre of iron-and-steel making.
D is wrong: they were trading towns, not Jain pilgrimage sites.
Exam tip: Sangam ports = Korkai (Pandya), Poompuhar or Kaveripattinam (Chola), Muziris or Muchiri (Chera).
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