Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
What were Manigramam and Nanadesi in early medieval India?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
In the early medieval period, particularly in the Chola and Pandya kingdoms, commerce was organized through highly structured, self-governing merchant associations.Explanation
Manigramam and Nanadesi were prominent merchant guilds. They were responsible for conducting long-distance inland and maritime trade across Southeast Asia and China.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option C is correct. These guilds often had their own military forces to protect trade caravans and were exempt from certain local taxes.
Logic 2: They were vital for the economy, acting as a bridge between the Indian subcontinent and the global Indian Ocean trade network.