Tag: society and culture in ancient tamizhagam: the sangam age

Dr. Voilekar stated that "An Indian farmer is as good as an English farmer and in certain matters, he is better than the English farmer." 

• Cultivation of wheat started in India, centuries before it started in England.
• It was cultivated even during the Mohenjodaro period(around 5000 years ago).

In ancient times the Southern area beyond the Vindhyachal ranges was known as the Southern route. The Southern Route passed in two directions. One direction went from Paithan on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra to the places in Bihar. The other route followed the coastal route in South India.

Gaius Plinius Secundus, known as Pliny the Elder" 77 CE, left probably the most important account of trade between Rome and India. According to him, one documented consignment from Muziris to Alexandria consisted of 700-1,700 pounds of nard over 4,700 pounds of ivory and almost 790 pounds of textiles. This has been calculated as worth a total value of 131 talents, enough to purchase 2,400 acres of the best farmland in Egypt. With such staggering profits, it is little wonder that the Roman government in Egypt encouraged and profited by the trade. In this context, he said, "Gold is flowing out of the Roman Empire due to the excessive use of Indian goods." Therefore, the correct answer is (A). Other options like Aristotle, Socrates and Plato are political thinkers nd Philosophers and have existed during the ancient period 600 BCE.

There were two domestic trade routes in India. The Northern route started from Tamralipty in Bengal to Hastinapur in present Uttar Pradesh. In ancient times the Southern area beyond the Vindhyachal ranges was known as the Southern route. The Southern Route passed in two directions. One direction went from Paithan on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra to the places in Bihar. The other route followed the coastal route in South India.

India had a huge fleet of ships and far ahead in the art of making ships as compared to Europe. Ships were the medium of foreign trade. Goods were imported from different countries like China ware from China, pearl from Srilanka etc. 

In ancient times, goods made in India like cotton clothes, perfume and spices. Foreign trade was carried out through both land and water routes. Exports were bigger than imports. The payments were made in Gold and Silver. This was the time, when India came to be known as 'Golden Bird.'

In ancient times the Southern area beyond the Vindhyachal ranges was known as the Southern route. The Southern Route passed in two directions. One direction went from Paithan on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra to the places in Bihar. The other route followed the coastal route in South India.