How did regional currencies like the Fanam impact South Indian trade?

They provided a standardized medium of exchange for local and maritime trade, especially in the spice-rich regions of the Malabar coast.

Medieval Indian Economy and Numismatics

UPSC Archival Analysis

Exam Year

2022

Evidence Source

Link

ID: ART_MIS_2022_02 Ref: Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals by Satish Chandra

In medieval India, the term 'Fanam' referred to:

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Correct Option: B

In medieval India, the term 'Fanam' referred to coins. These were standard currency units in South India, specifically Travancore, and the term is still associated with money in Tamil and Malayalam.