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Question

Consider the following elements with reference to early trade:

1. There are references of numerous river-ports in ancient India.
2. There were large entrepots of goods and traffic.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. Both 1 and 2
  2. Only 1
  3. Neither 1 nor 2
  4. Only 2

Answer:

Option A: Both 1 and 2

Detailed Solution:

The correct answer is “Both 1 and 2”.

Ancient Indian trade heavily relied on riverine transport. Ports like Tamralipti (Ganga delta), Ujjain (Shipra River), and Varanasi (Ganga River) played key roles in trade. Rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, and Krishna were major trade routes.

Cities like Pataliputra, Taxila, Bharuch, and Kaveripattinam served as major trading hubs. These locations facilitated trade between India, Southeast Asia, the Roman Empire, and the Middle East.