Trade, Ports, and Connectivity in Kerala’s Past

Hari Sankar B.

Trade and exchange were key factors in the development of Kerala society from the Iron Age to the Medieval period. This paper examines the growth of ports and trade centres along the Kerala coast using archaeological, literary and epigraphic evidence. It shows that maritime and long-distance trade in Kerala was built on earlier Iron Age exchange networks, reflected in megalithic burials, iron objects, beads and pottery traditions. The study focuses on major port sites, such as Pattanam, Vizhinjam, and Kollam, and on several other sites to trace changes in trade patterns over time. Pattanam emerged as an important early historic port with strong links to the Roman and West Asian worlds, supported by inland trade networks. Vizhinjam appears to have had a more strategic and political role, while Kollam became a major medieval port with strong connections to China and West Asia. The paper also highlights the role of hinterland regions in supplying raw materials and spices to coastal ports, demonstrating Kerala’s active participation in Indian Ocean trade networks.