Economy of ancient Tamil country trade. Industrial activity flourished. Inland trading was conducted primarily through barter in busy market places by merchant associations and commercial lending institutions. Merchants formed associations that operated autonomously, without interference from the state. The people of ancient Tamil country engaged in brisk overseas trade with Rome; the trade reached a peak after the discovery of a direct route for merchant ships between Tamilakam and Egypt, taking advantage of the monsoon winds. Pepper, pearls, ivory, textiles and gold ornaments were exported from Tamilakam, and the main imports were luxury goods such as glass, coral, wine and topaz. Foreign trade brought in
Monarchs, Rulers, Dynasties and Kingdoms of the World Monarchs, Rulers, Dynasties and Kingdoms of the World Monarchs, Rulers, Dynasties and Kingdoms of the World: An Encyclopaedic Guide to More Than 13,000 Rulers and 1,000 Dynasties from 3000 BC to the 20th Century is a non-fiction work by R.F. Tapsell, published in 1983. It is a comprehensive record of kings, queens, sultans, and emperors all in a single volume. It includes many dynasties that are rarely described except in advanced studies of individual countries or regions. The relationship of each monarch to his or her predecessor is provided which enables the reader to construct a rudimentary family tree. The