India was a prosperous country during the period. We have accounts of the massive amount of wealth Mahmud of Ghazni had made off with, and even invaders post- Sultanate made off with massive loots. However, the state did not follow a coherent economic policy to guide and develop the economy, except for some isolated cases amongst certain kings. Agriculture still remained the major occupation of the people although many industries had now come up in urban and rural areas. India still retained the industrial organization of the past, and the guilds were still active, surviving the sweeping changes that had knocked out other systems. The guilds continued to do useful work and remained an integral part of the economy. Large scale industry to the extent to which we know it today did not exist. Manufacturers dealt directly with traders, although they did do some retail sales at events like fairs. Important industries of the period were, the textile industry especially the manufacture of cotton, woolen and silk cloth, the dyeing industry, the metal, stone and brick work industries and the sugar industries. Other important industries of the period were shoe making, manufacture of arms, scents, liquor amongst many others. Every town would have a market-place where traders and merchants would come together. Fairs were also an important meeting ground. Inns also became popular market places as they were frequented by travelling gypsies who would
have various merchandise to sell. Delhi was a very prosperous city and a major commercial centre, in fact it had industries specially catering to its demands. India had flourishing trade relations and usually operated independent of state control. Sea routes connected her to the distant regions of Europe, China and other countries in the Pacific Ocean. Land routes connected her to Central Asia, Afghanistan, Persia, Tibet and Bhutan. Trade with India was a booming sector and many foreign traders settled down in India giving a cosmopolitan air to its cities. Some even married local women and made India their permanent home. Money lending was also taking place and wealthy bankers were engaged in this sector. Surprisingly, despite the unstable political situations, it was considered a safe sector because of the high level of integrity in India, as recounted by traders and travellers of the period.
India was an important exporter and traders from all over the world came to trade gold for a variety of merchandise, like agricultural goods, textiles, herbs etc. India was an important supplier of food to many countries in the Persian Gulf. Currency was also beginning to assume some degree of usage, and coins were being minted and issued during the Sultanate period. The coins circulated throughout the towns of North India. India was an importer of luxury items for the rich as well as animals like mules and horses. Food and goods were generally cheap in the Doab area, although prices during the period varied greatly depending on various factors like shortage or instability. Apparently the prices of commodities were generally low as foreign travellers recount. The villages had become self sufficient and since the needs of the poor were limited, the village was able to produce whatever it needed indigenously. As a result the people in the villages carried on with their routine irrespective of who was the ruler of the country. Every village would have its own craftsmen, weaver, potter, carpenter, metal worker etc, and they catered to most of the village needs. This existence continued uninterrupted until the arrival of the British who completed disrupted the system
India was a prosperous country during the period. We have accounts of the massive amount of wealth Mahmud of Ghazni had made off with, and even invaders post- Sultanate made off with massive loots. However, the state did not follow a coherent economic policy to guide and develop the economy, except for some isolated cases amongst certain kings. Agriculture still remained the major occupation of the people although many industries had now come up in urban and rural areas. India still retained the industrial organization of the past, and the guilds were still active, surviving the sweeping changes that had knocked out other systems. The guilds continued to do useful work and remained an integral part of the economy. Large scale industry to the extent to which we know it today did not exist. Manufacturers dealt directly with traders, although they did do some retail sales at events like fairs. Important industries of the period were, the textile industry especially the manufacture of cotton, woolen and silk cloth, the dyeing industry, the metal, stone and brick work industries and the sugar industries. Other important industries of the period were shoe making, manufacture of arms, scents, liquor amongst many others. Every town would have a market-place where traders and merchants would come together. Fairs were also an important meeting ground. Inns also became popular market places as they were frequented by travelling gypsies who would have various merchandise to sell. Delhi was a very prosperous city and a major commercial centre, in fact it had industries specially catering to its demands.
India had flourishing trade relations and usually operated independent of state control. Sea routes connected her to the distant regions of Europe, China and other countries in the Pacific Ocean. Land routes connected her to Central Asia, Afghanistan, Persia, Tibet and Bhutan. Trade with India was a booming sector and many foreign traders settled down in India giving a cosmopolitan air to its cities. Some even married local women and made India their permanent home. Money lending was also taking place and wealthy bankers were engaged in this sector. Surprisingly, despite the unstable political situations, it was considered a safe sector because of the high level of integrity in India, as recounted by traders and travellers of the period.
India was an important exporter and traders from all over the world came to trade gold for a variety of merchandise, like agricultural goods, textiles, herbs etc. India was an important supplier of food to many countries in the Persian Gulf. Currency was also beginning to assume some degree of usage, and coins were being minted and issued during the Sultanate period. The coins circulated throughout the towns of North India. India was an importer of luxury items for the rich as well as animals like mules and horses. Food and goods were generally cheap in the Doab area, although prices during the period varied greatly depending on various factors like shortage or instability. Apparently the prices of commodities were generally low as foreign travellers recount. The villages had become self sufficient and since the needs of the poor were limited, the village was able to produce whatever it needed indigenously. As a result the people in the villages carried on with their routine irrespective of who was the ruler of the country. Every village would have its own craftsmen, weaver, potter, carpenter, metal worker etc, and they catered to most of the village needs. This existence continued uninterrupted until the arrival of the British who completed disrupted the system
No comments:
Post a Comment