Abstract

The Periplus Maris Erythraeiis a handbook written by an anonymous author in the second half of the first century A.D., for the use of merchants from Roman Egypt who traded with east Africa, Arabia, and India.1 In it the author devotes a good deal of space to the trade with India's west coast. He notes that there were two main commercial centres: one was Barygaza on the northwestern coast, and the other the twin ports of Muziris and Nelkynda on the southwestern, the area he calls Limyrike, more or less the equivalent of the Malabar coast. He spells out in detail what Barygaza imported and exportedand then does the same for Limyrike.