Q. Consider the following statements about the Society and economy of Sangam Age:
1. Chattu referred to the itinerary or mobile merchants.
2. Umanars were the salt merchants.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
There is evidence of craft production such as bronze vessels, beads and gold works, textiles, shell bangles and ornaments, glass, iron smithy, pottery making.
- Craft production was common in the major urban centres such as Arikamedu, Uraiyur, Kanchipuram, Kaviripattinam, Madurai, Korkai, and Pattanam in Kerala.
- Madurai and kanchi speaks about day markets as well as and night markets selling several craft goods.
- The names of persons mentioned in inscriptions on pottery reveal the presence of non-Tamil speakers, mostly traders, in certain craft centres and towns. Traders from faraway regions were present in the Tamil country.
- Manimegalai refers to Magadha artisans, Maratha mechanics, Malva smiths and Yavana carpenters working in cooperation with Tamil craftsmen.
- Trade related terms such as vanikan, chattan and nigama appear in the Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions. Salt merchants called umanar, travelled in bullock carts along with their families for trade activities. Chattu referred to the itinerary or mobile merchants.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board.
