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The Romans, commonly known as the Yavanas, were the most important people from the foreign region to arrive in Tamizhakam (mainly including modern Kerala and Tamil Nadu) for collecting various articles.  The contacts between Tamilakham and the Roman Empire flourished during the early centuries of the Christian era.

The classical accounts, Sangam works and the Roman coins discovered from various parts of Kerala are the evidences for this contact. The songs numbers 2, 112, 182, 286 of Akananuru (a Sangam work) and the song No. 126 of Purananuru (Another Sangam work) contain references about the Yavanas or the Roman traders. Song No. 286 of Akananuru makes reference to the Roman ships which came to Muziris (identified as the Chera capital) to collect pepper in return for gold. Song No. 126 of Purananuru makes references to the pepper which is stored at Muziris.

Classical accounts include the writings of Strabo (first century AD), Pliny, (Roman historian of the first century AD, Pliny’s work entitled ‘Natural History’) Pesriplus of Erythrean Sea (means voyage on the Red Sea, first century AD, the author of this work is anonymous) and  Ptolemy. (second century AD) Some historians argue that according to the Peutinger Tables, said to have been copied from the wall paintings of Rome, a temple of Emperor Augustus was built at Muziris during third century AD.

Roman Coins

A large number of ancient Roman coins have been discovered from various parts of Kerala. A number of Roman coins have been displaced or damaged, while some Roman coins are preserved in the Nedumangad museum.

Following are the important sites from were Roman coins have been discovered:

1. Eyyal in Thrissur district.

2. Paravur in Ernakulam district.

3. Pala and Kanjirapalli in Kottayam district.

4. Kottayam near Thalassery.

The coins were minted in copper, silver and gold. These coins roughly covers a period of two hundred and fifty years of ancient Roman history, Some of them were minted during the period of Emperor Augustus (31 BC-14AD) The period of the coins found at Eyyal has been calculated as between BC 117 and 123 AD.

The Romans mainly collected luxury articles from Kerala. Luxury articles include pepper and spices. Spices include Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, Turmeric, red sandalwood, etc. Other luxury articles include a) Muslin (b) beads. All these luxury articles were consumed by the elite section of the Roman society.

Roman Articles discovered in Kerala include glass, wine jars, copper and lead from Egypt. Roman potteries have been discovered from Patanam near Paravur in Ernakulam district. In short, the Romans collected more articles from Kerala and gave little to the region.

Pepper was the most favoured item of the Romans. It was used as a medicine. According to Pliny, the Romans spent huge amount of money for the pepper. He also stated that the wealth of Rome is drained to Tamizhakam as a result of this trade contact and he advised the Roman Emperor to ban this trade.

Kerala’s trade contacts with Roman Empire came to an end by the third decade of the third century AD. It seems that this was the reason which lead to the downfall of the Proto-Kingdoms of Tamizhakam-Chera, Chola and Pandyas.

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