Which of the following items is listed as a major import into the port of Barygaza in ancient trade records?

Correct Option

The correct option is

Coral

Explanation

The trade dynamics of the Early Historic period, particularly the commercial exchanges between India and the Roman Empire, are documented in the Greek text The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (c. 1st century CE). Barygaza (modern Bharuch, Gujarat) served as a critical entrepôt for this maritime trade.

Analysis of Trade Items

• Imports into Barygaza: According to the Periplus, goods imported into this port from the West included wine, copper, tin, lead, coral, topaz, flint, glass, realgar, antimony, gold and silver coins, and ointments. Coral, specifically red coral from the Mediterranean, was highly valued in India.
• Exports from Barygaza: The port served as an exit point for goods sourced from the hinterland. Major exports included spikenard (aromatic plants from the Himalayas), costus, bdellium, ivory, agate and carnelian, lycium, cotton cloth, silk, and long pepper.

Therefore, among the given options, Coral is the only item listed as an import into the port.

Key Takeaway

Coral was a significant import into ancient Indian ports like Barygaza from the Mediterranean, whereas items like Agate (semi-precious stones) and Spikenard (Himalayan plants) were major exports.