Prelims 2023 · Ancient History · Question 3
With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
Answer
ports
- (a) Capital cities: Incorrect. Korkai was an early Pandya centre, but Poompuhar (Kaveripattinam) and Muchiri (Muziris) are chiefly known in sources as major maritime trading towns/ports, not all as capital cities.
- (b) Ports: Correct. Korkai, Poompuhar, and Muchiri were famous ancient South Indian ports linked to Indian Ocean and Roman trade.
- (c) Centres of iron-and-steel making: Incorrect. South India had iron and steel production centres, but these three places are historically noted primarily for overseas trade and port activity.
- (d) Shrines of Jain tirthankaras: Incorrect. These places are not known in ancient history as major Jain tirthankara shrines.
Answer: (b) Ports.