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?
1. Hoogly in Bengal
2. Masulipatnam on Coromandel coast
3. Surat on Gujarat coast
4. Bombay

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : 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.
• A vibrant sea trade operated through the main pre-colonial ports.
• Surat on the Gujarat coast connected India to the Gulf and Red Sea Ports; Masulipatam on the Coromandel coast and Hoogly in Bengal had trade links with Southeast Asian ports.