Table of Contents
Introduction: Indo Roman Trade
Indo-Roman trade was a significant ancient economic and cultural exchange between the Indian subcontinent and the Roman Empire. This trade flourished from the start of the Common Era, after Rome’s conquest of Egypt in 30 BCE. The trade primarily used the southern maritime route via the Red Sea. The trade connected Roman and Greek merchants with southern India’s Tamil dynasties – the Pandya, Chola, and Chera – bringing a steady flow of luxury goods like spices, silk, and gemstones to Rome, while India received Roman silver, gold, and other imports. This thriving trade route not only boosted economic ties but also fostered cross-cultural exchanges between two of history’s great civilizations.
Sources of Indo Roman Trade Relations
| Sangam literature | Reference of Roman ships sailing in the Periyar River Import of gold and wine Export of black pepper. |
| Periplus of the Erythraean Sea It was written between 40 and 70 A.D. and served as a crucial guide for merchants and shippers departing from the ports of Roman Egypt on the Red Sea. This ancient maritime manual provided essential information for those engaged in trade with the eastern coast of Africa, Arabia, and India. | Details about ports on the Gujarat coast and the Indus Delta Gives a detailed account of the internal and external trade of India. Export of goods to the Roman Empire |
| Pliny | Reference about the flow of Roman gold into India |
| Roman Coins |
A piece of pottery with ancient Tamil-Brahmi script was recently found in Khor Rori, Oman. The writing says “nantai kiran” and is about 1900 years old, from the first century CE. This find in the old city of Sumhuram helps us learn more about the trade with the Roman Empire.
Indo Roman Trade in Ancient India
- In the first few centuries after the birth of Christ, India had a profitable trade relationship with the Roman Empire.
- Roman Empire was India’s main foreign market.
- Indian goods especially luxury goods such as various gems and pearls, perfumes, spices, silk, and muslin were in great demand in European countries. In return, part of the gold treasure of the Roman Empire was imported to India.
- There are many references to the importance of foreign trade in Tamil literature.
Indo Roman Trade Routes
The trade route during the Indo-Roman trade primarily consisted of both maritime and overland routes connecting the Indian subcontinent with the Roman Empire.
These trade routes enabled the exchange of a variety of commodities, including spices, textiles, gems, ivory, and more, contributing to the economic prosperity and cultural diffusion between ancient India and Rome.
Maritime Routes
- Red Sea Route:
- Goods from the Indian subcontinent were transported across the Arabian Sea to ports such as Berenice and Myos Hormos on the Red Sea coast of Egypt.
- Berenice is an ancient seaport of Egypt on the western shore of the Red Sea.
- Myos Hormos was a Red Sea port in modern-day Egypt. It was founded by Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt from 284 to 246 BC).
- Arabian Sea Route: Ships sailed from ports along the western coast of India, such as Barygaza (modern-day Bharuch) and Muziris (modern-day Kodungallur), to various destinations in the Arabian Peninsula and the eastern coast of Africa.
Overland Routes
- Silk Road: Caravans traversed the overland Silk Road, connecting India with the Roman Empire through Central Asia. This route facilitated the exchange of goods and cultural influences between the two regions.
- Trans-Indus Routes: Overland routes connected the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent, such as the area around Taxila, with the Persian Empire, which in turn had trade connections with the Roman Empire.
Major Ports of Indo-Roman Trade
The Indo-Roman trade routes thrived through several important port cities in the Indian subcontinent. Each port acted as a hub for goods exchanged between the Roman Empire and India. Key ports included Barbaricum, Barygaza, Muziris, Arikamedu and Korkai. Here’s an overview of these trade centres:
Barbaricum (Modern Karachi, Pakistan)
- Location: Barbaricum was located near present-day Karachi along the Arabian Sea, serving as an important Indo-Roman trade port.
- Imported Items: Roman merchants brought goods such as thin clothing, figured linens, topaz, coral, storax, frankincense, vessels of glass, gold, silver plates, and a limited amount of wine.
- Exported Items: In return, Barbaricum exported Indian products like costus, bdellium, lycium, nard, turquoise, lapis lazuli, cotton cloth, silk yarn, and indigo.
- Important Points: Barbaricum is described in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, which details the Greco-Roman trade in the region. Its location allowed it to act as a gateway for goods moving between the Indian subcontinent and the Roman Empire.
Barygaza (Modern Bharuch, Gujarat)
- Location: Barygaza, or modern Bharuch in Gujarat, was a prominent trade port on the Gulf of Khambhat under Indo-Scythian rule.
- Imported Items: Roman traders brought wine, Italian and Arabian varieties, copper, tin, lead, coral, topaz, fine and coarse clothing, storax, sweet clover, glass, realgar, antimony, gold, silver, and ointment.
- Exported Items: Local exports from Barygaza included spikenard, costus, bdellium, ivory, agate, carnelian, Lycium, cotton cloth, silk cloth, mallow cloth, yarn, and long pepper.
- Important Points: Described in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
Muziris (Modern Kodungallur, Kerala)
- Location: Muziris was located near the modern town of Kodungallur on the southwest coast of India, in the Chera kingdom.
- Imported Items: Ships from Rome and Arabia brought cargo such as fine wines, silverware, and other luxury items to Muziris.
- Exported Items: Muziris was well-known for its exports of black pepper, spices, precious stones, and ivory – highly valued in Roman markets.
- Important Points: The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea highlights Muziris as a key hub for Indo-Roman trade, with a large number of Greek seamen involved in the bustling port activities. Archaeological finds, including Roman coins and amphorae, confirm the extensive trade conducted here.
Korkai (Modern Tamil Nadu)
- Location: Korkai was an ancient port located near the Bay of Bengal, close to the mouth of the Tamiraparani River in Tamil Nadu.
- Imported Items: Roman artefacts found in Korkai, such as pottery, suggest the import of items like wine, glassware, and possibly metal goods.
- Exported Items: Korkai was renowned for its high-quality pearls, which were highly sought after in Rome. Other exports likely included spices and textiles.
- Important Points: Mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea and Sangam literature, Korkai was part of the Pandyan Kingdom and was noted for its pearl fisheries.
Arikamedu (Near Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu)
- Location: Arikamedu was an important Indo-Roman trading station situated 6 km from Pondicherry at the mouth of the Ariyankuppam River.
- Imported Items: Roman goods, especially pottery, were imported here, alongside luxury items and glassware from the Roman Empire.
- Exported Items: Arikamedu’s exports likely included textiles, beads, and possibly spices, which were in high demand across Roman territories.
- Important Points:
- It is identified with the ancient ‘Pouduke‘ described by Ptolemy. Excavations in the mid-20th century uncovered Roman pottery and suggest that it was a major Chola dynasty trading hub during the 1st century CE.
- Many impressive Roman artefacts have been discovered at the site, including pottery with stamped letters, Rouletted ware, Mediterranean shipping amphorae, Roman intaglios, and gems.
- Amphora: An amphora is a two-handled jar with a narrow neck, used in ancient times, particularly in the Mediterranean, for storing and transporting goods like wine, oil, and grain.
- Nakkirar, a poet of the Sangam era, mentions the statues of women lamp bearers of excellent workmanship created by the Yavanas (Romans). Some fragments of Roman lamps have been discovered at Arikamedu.
Notable Sites with Roman Artifacts in India
| Sites | Key Findings |
|---|---|
| Vasavasamudram (near Mamallapuram) | conical jars and the neck of an amphora |
| Arikamedu (near Pondicherry) | |
| Karaikadu (near Cuddalore) | |
| Kaveripumpattinam at the mouth of River Kaveri (Thanjavur Dist) | |
| Uraiyur the ancient capital of the Cheras (Trichy Dist) | |
| Karur, the ancient Capital of the Cheras | Roman coins, Roman Amphorae |
| Alagankulam near Rameshwaram | Roulette ware and Amphora jar pieces Roman coins: contain the figure of the head of the Roman Emperor on one side and the figure of the goddess of victory, holding a globe on the other side. |
Quick Revision: Indo Roman Trade at a Glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Period | Primarily during the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE. |
| Main Participants | Indian subcontinent (especially South India) Roman Empire |
| Key Indian Ports | Muziris (modern-day Kerala) Arikamedu (near Puducherry) Barygaza (modern Bharuch, Gujarat) |
| Main Roman Ports | Alexandria in Egypt (as a major transit port) Ostia (port of Rome) |
| Goods Exported from India | Spices (especially black pepper) Textiles (cotton, silk) Precious stones and pearls Ivory Exotic animals |
| Goods Imported to India | Roman gold and silver coins Wine Olive oil Glassware Luxury goods such as pottery and bronzeware |
| Trade Routes | Maritime routes through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea Land routes through the Persian Empire (Silk Road) |
| Roman Influence | Establishment of Indo-Roman communities in trade hubs like Muziris and Arikamedu Roman architectural influence in certain coastal cities |
| Economic Impact | India accumulated large quantities of Roman gold and silver, leading to a drain of wealth from the Roman Empire Stimulated urbanization and economic growth in Indian ports |
| Cultural Exchange | Introduction of Roman art and architecture in Indian coastal areas Influence on Indian pottery styles |
| Decline of Trade | Decline began in the 3rd century CE due to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire Increased Persian control over trade routes |
Indo Roman Trade UPSC PSC MCQs
- From the excavations of which ancient site, information has been gathered regarding brisk trade relations between India and Rome during the early centuries of the Christian era.
[UPPSC (Pre) 2003]
(a) Madurai
(b) Tamralipti
(c) Tondi
(d) Arikamedu
Correct answer: (d) Arikamedu
- The Roman settlement has been found in
[UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2009]
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Arikamedu
(c) Rangpur
(d) Satara
Correct answer: (b) Arikamedu
- Which one of the following ports was known as Poduke to the author of the ‘Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’?
[UPPSC (Pre) 1997]
(a) Arikamedu
(b) Tamralipti
(c) Korkai
(d) Barbaricum
Correct answer: (a) Arikamedu
- Amphora jar is a
[UPPSC 2014]
(a) perforated jar
(b) tall double-handle jar
(c) painted grey jar
(d) black and red ware jar
Correct answer: (b) tall double-handle jar
- Which one of the following objects of Roman manufacture has been most abundantly found in India?
[IAS (Pre) 1999]
(a) Potsherds
(b) Bronze icons
(c) Lamps
(d) Coins
Correct answer: (d) Coins
- Consider the following statements.
I. In the Sangam age, the exchange was based on a kind of barter system.
II. There were certain fixed points of exchange called ‘avanam’.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) Only I
(b) Both I and II
(c) Only II
(d) Neither I nor II
Correct answer: (a) Only I
- Assertion (A): Many Roman gold and silver coins belonging to the first and second centuries have been discovered in South India.
Reason (R): Some parts of South India were under Roman occupation during this period.
[IAS (Pre) 1997]
Codes:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Correct answer: (c) A is true, but R is false
- Match the following:
[IAS (Pre) 2000]
List I (Port) | List II (Location)
A. Barygaza | 1. Malabar Coast
B. Muziris | 2. Present Day Mumbai Coast
C. Sopara | 3. The Eastern Coast of India
D. Suvarnabhumi | 4. At the North of the Narmada River Codes:
(a) 4 2 1 3
(b) 1 3 4 2
(c) 3 1 4 2
(d) 4 1 2 3 Correct answer: (d) 4 1 2 3