Question

Via which of the following Indian coasts was a vibrant sea trade to the Gulf and Red Sea ports operated through the main pre-colonial ports?

• A. Hoogly in Bengal
• B. Masulipatnam on Coromandel coast
• C. Surat on Gujarat coast
• D. Bombay

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Surat on Gujarat coast

• Before the age of machine industries, silk and cotton goods from India dominated the international market in textiles.

• Coarser cottons were produced in many countries, but the finer varieties often came from India.

• Armenian and Persian merchants took the goods from Punjab to Afghanistan, eastern Persia and Central Asia.

• Bales of fine textiles were carried on camel back via the north-west frontier, through mountain passes and across deserts.

• Surat on the Gujarat coast connected India to the Gulf and Red Sea Ports: Masulipatnam on the Coromandel coast and Hoogly in Bengal had trade links with Southeast Asian ports.