Which natural dye from the Indian subcontinent, derived from the indigo plant, was historically a major export commodity?
- Indigo
- Madder
- Turmeric
- Saffron
Answer: Indigo
Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) has been cultivated in India for over 4,000 years for blue dye. Historically exported to Rome, Southeast Asia, and Europe, it was a key commodity in pre-colonial and colonial trade networks.