ISSN: 2265-6294

THE PORTS OF KERALA: HISTORIC SIGNS OF YESTERDAYS

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Unnikrishnan S, Deepu S.

Abstract

A state's or region's geography describes its borders, the size of its territory, settlement patterns, prosperity, intra- and inter-regional linkages, and many cultural and social sectors. The ports deserve special notice among the various geographical elements that have a significant impact on a people's lives and history. Kerala, a tiny strip of land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea with a width ranging from 30 to 120 kilometers, is blessed with natural wonders. The 580 kilometers of coastal plains and natural ports serve as a doorway to Kerala's cultural mosaic. The ports aided the spice trade and increased the country's renown in Europe, the West, and Central Asia, despite a less productive agricultural economy. These interstate and intercontinental interactions developed a distinct economy, culture, and way of life. The existence of middlemen blocked the flow of the lucrative advantage of these economic links to Kerala. The spice trade's immense economic potential was apprehended by Arabs, Europeans, and trading corporations. A statistical examination of the purchase price and selling price of Kerala spices provides a new way to examine the true driving factor behind European colonization.

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