Previous Year Question
With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as:
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were all important ports of ancient South India. They were major maritime centres associated respectively with the Pandya, Chola and Chera regions.
Korkai, in the present-day Tuticorin region of Tamil Nadu and associated with the Tamraparani river, was an ancient port. The Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology states that Sangam literature and classical geographers referred to it particularly as an important port of pearl fishery. Tamil-Brahmi inscribed potsherds have also been excavated there.
Poompuhar, also known as Kaveripoompattinam/Kaveripattinam, stood where the Kaveri meets the sea and was a prosperous port city of the Chola region. The Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology describes it as a flourishing port city of the Sangam period and the second capital of the Cholas. Excavations have also revealed a structure interpreted as a wharf.
Muchiri, known as Muziris in Greek-Roman sources, was a celebrated western-coast port in the Chera region. The Kerala Department of Archaeology explicitly states that Sangam literature identifies Muziris as Muchiri. Archaeological evidence of Mediterranean trade includes Roman amphora fragments, Chera coins and other imported material.
Korkai → Pandya-region port
Poompuhar → Chola-region port
Muchiri → Chera-region port