freinds, today afternoon there was an hour programme about roman empire and its influence in egypt between 300BC and 500AD. the programme highlighted the flourishing commerce between southindia and the redsea ports. the researchers say there was about 8400 tons of spices were traded between southindia and the red sea ports in a year in the present day sinai peninsula.
the approximate estimation of the turnover per year would be around rs 8400 crores in modern day exchange values.
the book periples of the erythrean was discussed and the southindian potteries with brahmi inscriptions found in the alexandrian coast were also touched upon.
fall of the empire: the fall of the roman empire in 5th century brought about the sealing of mediterranian sea to the southindian coast. after this the sea was called as arabian sea and the trade now was with the arabs. the patterns are now different and the trade rules have changed.
the period inbetween:
the period between the collapse of roman empire and the rise of arabian sulatanates was marked by confusion in southindia too. the period is the dark age or the kalabhra age. is this darkness was due to the fall in trade revenues in tamilagam? the sangam and post-kalabhra ages are also different. is it due to change in trade practices? is the fall of early empires of tamilagam are due to the fall of roman empire?
now that western researchers are showing more interests in this area-like the michael wood of oxford and the present study and an earlier study on arrival of st.thomas....etc. this marks a new beginning in the historiography of the tamilagam of the 500BC.
now it is the turn of us to go in for realistic efforts to correspond them. hence tomarrow iam going to poompuhar,pallavaneeswaram and sayavanam to see the buddha vihara and the museum there! want to join me?