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UPSC CSE Pre. 2022

Medieval Indian Economy and Numismatics

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

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

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept Numismatics in medieval India involved various regional currencies that facilitated trade and reflected the economic stability of the kingdoms. The term 'Fanam' is rooted in South Indian economic history.

Explanation Historical records of the Travancore region and South Indian trade identify Fanam (or Panam) as a specific denomination of currency used extensively for commercial transactions.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Fanam coins were a regular unit of currency, particularly in medieval Travancore, and were widely used for trading across the South Indian region.
Logic 2: Linguistically, the words 'Fanam' and 'Panam' literally translate to 'money' in Tamil and Malayalam, a usage that persists in modern regional dialects to denote wealth.

Active Recall

Question

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

Answer

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

Core Insight

The survival of the term 'Panam' in modern South Indian languages as a synonym for money highlights the deep historical integration of this coinage in everyday life.

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