Government and Society Pandyan dynasty

silk road map showing ancient trade routes.

roman , greek traders frequented ancient tamil country, present day southern india , sri lanka, securing trade seafaring tamil states of pandyan, chola , chera dynasties , establishing trading settlements secured trade south asia greco-roman world since time of ptolemaic dynasty few decades before start of common era , remained long after fall of western roman empire. recorded strabo, emperor augustus of rome received @ antioch ambassador south indian king called pandyan. country of pandyas, pandi mandala, described pandyan mediterranea in periplus , modura regia pandyan ptolemy. outlasted byzantium s loss of ports of egypt , red sea (c. 639-645) under pressure of muslim conquests. sometime after sundering of communications between axum , eastern roman empire in 7th century, christian kingdom of axum fell slow decline, fading obscurity in western sources. survived, despite pressure islamic forces, until 11th century, when reconfigured in dynastic squabble.

pearl fishing

pearl fishing important industry in ancient tamilakam

pearl fishing industry flourished during sangam age. pandyan port city of korkai center of pearl trade. written records greek , egyptian voyagers give details pearl fisheries off pandyan coast. periplus of erythraean sea mentions pearls inferior indian sort exported in great quantity marts of apologas , omana . inferior variety of pearls tamils did not require use in great demand in foreign markets. pearls woven along nice muslin cloth, before being exported. expensive animal product imported india roman empire pearl gulf of mannar.

the pearls pandyan kingdom in demand in kingdoms of north india. several vedic mantras refer wide use of pearls. royal chariots decked pearls, horses dragged them. use of pearls high supply of pearls ganges not meet demand. literary references of pearl fishing mention how fishermen, dive sea, avoid attacks sharks, bring right-whorled chank , blow on sounding shell. convicts used pearl divers in korkai.

megasthenes reported pearl fisheries of pandyas, indicating pandyas derived great wealth pearl trade.