Ancient Trade Routes of Tamil Kingdom and the Global Black Pepper Supply Chain Network with its Impact on Roman Trade and Economy - A Survey

This research survey is on the India’s Black Pepper Supply Chain network during sangam age and its impact on Roman trade and economy with respect to the inventory movement using heritage trade routes thousands of years ago . This multidisciplinary research work of sangam age Spice route connecting the ancient port towns of Chera ,Chola and Pandian kingdoms revolves around building a supply chain network design of a single item and multi echelon inventory movement. The process of identifying the various explanatory variables of the single traded item , called black pepper during the sangam age is the highlight of this value chain building research work. The seafaring abilities of the Tamil Merchant guilds are reviewed with the related works and excavation reports in this study. The commercial terms and trade route realities with roman shippers are presented with inscriptional evidences and literary quotes.