Welcome to your LT Grade English MCQs Mock Test 19
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions (32-36) that follow it. Whether or not the Aryans of the Rig Vedic period knew the sea, by the time of the Buddha hardly sailors had probably circumnavigated the sub-continent, and perhaps made the first contacts with Burma, Malaya and the islands of Indonesia. In the early centuries of the Christian era maritime trade became most vigorous, especially with the West, where the Roman Empire demanded the luxuries of the East in great quantities. With the fall of the Roman Empire the trade with the West declined somewhat, though it was maintained by the Arabs, and improved gradually with the rising material standards of medieval Europe. Before the time of the Guptas contact was made by sea between South India and China, and as trade with the West declined that with China increased, the Chinese demand for Indian spices, jewels, perfumes, and other luxury commodities continuing down to the present day Certain over-enthusiastic Indian scholars have perhaps made too much of the achievements of ancient Indian sea-farers, which cannot compare with those of the Vikings, or of some other early maritime people. Much of the merchandise exported from India was carried in foreign bottoms, and though Indian literature mentions ships carrying 1,000 passengers this seems certain an exaggeration. (GIC LECTURER - 2015) ..........Question: 32: When was the first contact with the islands of Indonesia ma by Indians?
