‘Kudirai Chettis’ were related to which trading commodity in fifteenth-century India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Horses
The kudirai chettis were local communities of horse merchants who took part in the import of horses from Arabia and Central Asia, which was very important for the cavalry of the rival kingdoms.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.1 Kings and traders … As warfare during these times depended upon effective cavalry, the import of horses from Arabia and Central Asia was very important for rival kingdoms. This trade was initially controlled by Arab traders. Local communities of merchants known as kudirai chettis or horse merchants also participated in these exchanges. From 1498 other actors appeared on the scene. These were the Portuguese, who arrived on the west coast of the subcontinent and attempted to establish trading and military stations. Their superior military technology, especially the use of muskets, enabled them to become important players in the tangled politics of the period.…” |