Previous Year Question

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of early maritime history of Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation/explanations?

As compared to other countries, India had a better ship-building technology in ancient and medieval times

The rulers of southern India always patronized traders, brahmin priests and buddhist monks in this context

Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages

Both (a) and (b) are convincing explanations in this context

Correct Answer: C

Detailed Solution

The direction of the monsoon winds reverses seasonally. They blow in one direction during one part of the year and in the opposite direction during another.

These regular and predictable winds enabled ancient sailors to travel from India to Southeast Asia and undertake the return journey during the opposite season.

Thus, the monsoon winds were the most direct and convincing factor enabling regular maritime trade and cultural contacts across the Bay of Bengal.

Option (a) makes an excessively broad claim that Indian ship-building technology was superior to that of all other countries. Ship-building capability was important, but it was not the most convincing explanation for the regularity of sea voyages.

The word “always” makes option (b) an absolute statement. Royal patronage encouraged trade and cultural transmission, but it did not physically facilitate voyages across the sea.

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