The book highlights The trade networks and The pattern of trade in early south India with special reference to coromandel coast in the light of archaeological discoveries.The survey of antiquarian remains suggests the habitation of population beginning from the megalithic period at many sites such as those located in the kaveri delta.these megalithic communities participated in the exchange network extending northwards to the andhra coast and beyond the sea to sri lanka.Initially, the ports on the west coast of india witnessed the vibrant trading activities but the discovery of monsoon in the first century ad made the circumnavigation of cape comorin easier leading to the rise of port centres such as arikamedu on the east coast which contributed significantly to the indo-roman trade. kaveripattinam emerged as an Important centre in kaveri delta by the third-fourth centuries ad.during the rule of the pallava and chola dynasties the epicentre shifted further northward to mamallapuram (mahabalipuram) and nagapattinam respectively serving to the expanding trade with the countries across the bay of bengal. In the Light of these facts, the study demonstrates the different phases of trade activities in tamil region during our ancient past.The shift of trade from the west coast to the east coast is evident in the rise and growth of settlements and trade networks encourged by the geographical and cultural factors.The development of trade and commercial links however, is not to be observed solely in association with the demand-supply mechanism materialized due to long-distance trade but also in the context factors such as the spread of brahmanism, buddhism and jainism necessitating the movements even to distant lands including sri lanka, china and southeast asia. therefore,this work also focuses upon different aspects associated with the continuity and survival of trade on the east coast with special reference to tamil region.