Muziris and the Global Networks of the Sangam Age: Reassessing Indo-Roman Trade Dynamics

The port of Muziris occupies a distinguished position in the economic and cultural history of early Tamilakam. Functioning as a significant node in Indo-Roman commerce, Muziris facilitated the movement of spices, precious stones, luxury goods, and cultural knowledge across vast maritime networks. This paper reassesses Indo-Roman trade through a multidisciplinary lens, integrating Sangam literary records, Greco-Roman geographical accounts, recent archaeological excavations at Pattanam, and numismatic evidence. It argues that Muziris was not a passive recipient of Mediterranean commercial activity but an active agent in shaping early global exchange. The study further explores the political strategies of the Chera rulers, the socio-economic shifts induced by maritime prosperity, and the cultural entanglements that emerged from sustained contact between Tamil and Roman worlds. Ultimately, this analysis places Muziris within a broader global historical framework and highlights the significance of Tamilakam’s maritime heritage in early world systems.