The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c7.16

c7.16

About the seventh century B.C., therefore, we must assume that ‘India’ consisted of a large number of distinct states, constantly striving to destroy and absorb one another or struggling for existence. Foreigners, especially merchants from Persia, were no doubt settled in many of the coast towns and frontier cities. Somewhat later we have the evidence to this effect of the Greek writer Hekataius of Miletus (549–486 B.C.) who mentions places in India known to him. Trade in gold, spices, etc., was carried on by sea from the Malabar Coast, while the silk trade was confined to the Coromandel Coast. Maritime trade along the coasts had to contend with the dangers of piracy which appear to have been always prevalent.