Question

The chief centre or meeting point of the Indo-Roman trade was:
A.Arikamedu
B.Muziris
C.Alexandria
D.Madurai

Answer 1

Hint: Indo-Roman trade relations occurred between the ancient ports of the Indian subcontinent and the ports within the Roman Empire in Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. There were two types of trade networks based on the route and modes of transportation. One type of trade happened using huge caravans through the routes in Asia Minor and the Middle East. But this was a complicated one given the fact that geography of the plain is not suitable for trades. Hence, the major route was on the southern port through the Red sea.

Complete answer:
The Indo-Roman trade was initiated in the 1st century BC and became active in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. As the geographical location of Arabia, Asia Minor and north-eastern Africa became in favour of a long way trade, it also helped in favour of international relations. The earliest evidence of this trade is to be found from the southern Peninsula, especially in the state of Kerala. Indo- Roman trade was carried out through two modes of transportation, on the sea as well on land. These trades were controlled by two separate kingdoms, the Śakas controlled the trade by sea and the Sātavāhanas and the Kushanas controlled land trades.
The chief centre of the Indo- Roman trade was the port in the southern coast known as Muziris. Muziris is an ancient lost port city situated on the south-western coast of India. It was part of the ancient Tamil land during the reign of both Chera kingdom and the Roman Empire and held all the major trades between the lands. It is a part of modern-day Kerala, in a place known as Chengannur (central Kerala).

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: The district of Muziris has long been home to Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jews, all of whom, except for a few aberrations, live pretty much in peace. However, the strong trade ties these people forged with the Romans, the Arabs and the Persians for more than two and a half millennia were more significant, which continue to this day with the Keralites contributing more through their remittances to our foreign exchange reserves than any other sector of the economy.