Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Before colonialism, Indian merchants organised export trade through a well-connected network of land and sea routes. Armenian and Persian merchants carried goods from Punjab via the north-west frontier to Central Asia and Persia. Sea trade operated through key ports: Surat (Gujarat) connected India to the Gulf and Red Sea; Masulipatam (Coromandel coast) and Hoogly (Bengal) linked India to Southeast Asia.

Role of supply merchants: They acted as the link between port towns and inland weaving regions. They gave advances to weavers, procured cloth from weaving villages, and delivered it to the ports. At ports, big export merchants used brokers to buy goods from these supply merchants.

Source: Chapter 4, Section 3.1 — The Age of Indian Textiles

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The examiner expects three clear components for 3 marks:

1. Trade routes/network (land + sea) — name the merchants and destinations.
2. Key ports — Surat, Masulipatam, Hoogly (at least two named for credit).
3. Role of supply merchants — advances to weavers → collected cloth → brought to ports. This is the most specific part and must not be vague.

Avoid writing extra detail about the Company's takeover — that is a separate question. Stick to the pre-colonial organisation only.