Agriculture was the main occupation. Next to agriculture, spinning and weaving were the most important and widely practised crafts. Spinning and weaving of cotton, and of silk, had attained a high degree of perfection. Spinning was the parttime occupation of women. The weaving of complex patterns on cloth and silk is often mentioned in literature and according to the Periplus. Uraiyur was a great centre of cotton trade.Ship-building, metal working, carpentry, rope-making, ornamentmaking, tanning and making of ivory products were widely practiced.