Skip to content
Civil Services Notes Civil Services Notes Civil Services Notes

Economy, Land Grants, Coinage and Trade Guilds

Economy, Land Grants, Coinage and Trade Guilds

Section titled “Economy, Land Grants, Coinage and Trade Guilds”

2020-04-27 11:56:08

Economy and Trade

Section titled “Economy and Trade”

Local Trade

Section titled “Local Trade”
  • @ Barter was the most common mode done in items like Salt, fish, paddy, dairy products, roots, venison, honey and toddy.
  • & A loan of a fixed quantity of an article could be taken to be repaid in the same kind and quantity at a later date. This was called Kurietirppai
  • Most of the items of exchange were of consumption article, exchange was not profit oriented, distribution and production both was subsistence oriented.

Long Distance Trade

Section titled “Long Distance Trade”
  • was carried out through the route known as Dakshinapatha, conch-shells, diamonds, pearls, precious stones and gold were the items that were traded.
  • Kalinga was a variety of silk that was traded, NBPW pottery found its way to south during this time.
  • spikentard and malabathrum were types of Herbs that found its way to the south
  • Silver punch marked coins were also brought to the south.

Long Distance overseas Trade

Section titled “Long Distance overseas Trade”
  • spices, precious and semi-precious stones, timber, ivory etc were in demand in the west.
  • Trade with the Roman empire was flourishing during this time. In the early stage Arabs acted as middle men but later the trade became more direct.
  • The Arabs were aware about the direction of the winds in the region which they kept as a trade secret.
  • $ With the dicovery of monsoon by Hippalus direct contact with Romans was established.
  • Raw materials brought by Romans were copper, tin, lead, coral, topaz, flint, glass.
  • Finished goods that were brought were wine, clothes of fine texture, fine ornaments, gold and silver coins.
  • Export items from India were :
    • Timber items like ebony, teak, sandalwood, bamboo
    • Textile item of coloyred cotton cloth and muslin dyes like Indigo
    • Precious and semi-precious stones such as beryl, agate, Carnelian, Jasper and onyx as well as shells, pearls and tusk
  • Romans paid mainly in gold.
  • Excavations at Bet Dwarka and Dwarka have given objects of copper, bronze, iron anchors etc belonging to 200BC-200CE.
  • Jataka mentions traders going to South-East Asia, Ratnadvipa and Baveru identified as Babylon. ^cc8558

Image unavailable in web version: Image

Trade and Traders (300 BC -300 CE)

Section titled “Trade and Traders (300 BC -300 CE)”
  • Trade was facilitated by the increase in money economy, issuance of small denominational coins.
  • $ Dinara was a gold coin, purana a silver one and karshapana a copper coin. Roman denarii was in circulation in the south, die struck coins were issued by the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas.
  • @ Dharmashastras like the Yajnavalkya and Manu Smriti mentions the prescriptions of taxes, profit etc but they were not followed. It suggest punishment for non-compliance for traders. It fixes 5 percent as the tax on the profit of the traders it was also flexible based on the Varna.
  • Sangam texts mentions of trader in the Tamilakam in the markets of Puhar trading in items like flowers, garlands, jewellery etc. It mentions caravans called chattu carrying out movt of goods.
  • The important trading sites were located along the Uttarpatha which connected cities from Mathura, Ujjain, Mahishmati, Surat. Another route connected Kaushambi with Vidisha.
  • $ Periplus has mentioned ports like Bhrigukaccha, Sopara, Kalyan etc.
  • Various goods that were traded were cotton textiles, steel weapons, horses and camels, elephants etc.
  • Jatakas mention the head of a sailors guild as the niyamakjettha and the Sangam texts mentions Romans as Yavanas bringing goods to ports.
  • $ Ships have been mentioned as having 3 masts, rigging, sails, planks and oars. Onesicritis and Pliny have mentioned about the peculiarity of the Indian boats
  • increase in wealth of trader increased the donations to religious organisation and it helped them become more institutionalised and organised.
  • statues of seafaring merchants were found in Bharhut, Mathura along with Hero stones of fallen merchants in the Konakan coast.
  • Donations to Buddhist monasteries increase and in turn they started providing services to merchants like wine, incense and precious stones.
  • led to spread of Buddhism in China

Trade with East and South East Asia

Section titled “Trade with East and South East Asia”
  • Trade with Chinese was dominated by Silk.
  • Frankincense and styrax were 2 fragrances that were common in demand in Central asia and exported by the Chinese
  • @ Animal hides were imported from Central Asia. Other items that were transported from India were pearls, corals, glass and fragrances.
  • ~ The dissociation of the Byzantine empire and the collapse of the Kushana hampered trade
  • Southeast Asia has been referred to as Suvarnadwipa like the Milindapanha ^217ed4
  • Indian artefacts have been discovered in Thailand and Malayasia like galls, faceted carnelian, etched agate etc.
  • Emergence of kingdoms, ranked society, expansion of crafts etc in the 1st century in Southeast helped increase the volume of trade.
  • Trade was done through barter or use of cowrie shells.
  • Imports were gold, spices like cinnamon, cloves etc other goods were aromatics, sandalwood and camphor. Exports included cotton cloth, sugar, beads, pottery.

Indo Roman Trade

Section titled “Indo Roman Trade”

  • $ Sangam texts mention ships sailing on Periyar river bringing gold and wine and taking awas black pepper. Pattupattu mentions unloading of merchandise onto Yavana ships.

  • $ Periplus gives the details about the sailing schedules, routes, trade, ports and merchandise, about rulers, flora and fauna, life and culture of the people.

  • Pliny and Dio Chrysostom refers to the drain of Roman gold into India

  • @ Roman coins mostly of emperors Augustus and Tiberius are found. Gold ones were called aurei and silver as denarii. Silver coins are more numerous.

  • concentrated in Coimbatore area of TN and Krishna valley.

  • Roman pottery like the Amphorae jars and Terra Sigillata are found.

  • Excavations at Arikamedu have given evidences of warehouses, area for dying muslin cloth, a storage area with tanks and drains, Roman amphorae jars and arrentine ware was found.

  • Impact on Indian Society? #todo

  • Muziris, Korkai, Woraiyur, Madurai descriptions in Anki

  • The Indo-Roman trade brought in unprecedented levels of prosperity for the Indian rulers and the merchant classes. One of the most conspicuous impacts of this was the growth of numerous Buddhist monasteries in western Maharashtra.

More on Indo Roman Trade

Land Grants

Section titled “Land Grants”
  • @ The practice of donating revenue to Brahmana villages started during this period.
  • These donations were proclaimed first in the Nigama Sabha, then was written down on a copper plate and give to a record keeper.
  • Earliest known land grants were made by them
  • Nanaghat inscriptions mention the donation of villages to officiating priests of shrauta and ashvamedha sacrifices.
  • Nashik inscription mentions about a donor who gave 16 villages to Brahmanas, and a grant of field to Buddhist monks.
  • Some land grants made by Satakarni mentions special privileges like not be disturbed by Royal troops, be dug for salt, free from control of state officials.

Crafts and Guilds

Section titled “Crafts and Guilds”
  • Various Buddhist texts like Angavijja, Lalitvistara, Milindpanha, Mahavastu mention various types of crafts during this period.
  • & They include potters, carpenters, Metal smiths, foresters, hunters, fowlers etc. Crafts had localised and were concentrated in certain streets.
  • $ Sangam literature mentions specialised crafts like gem working, weaving, shell working etc.
  • $ Jataka stories mentions various crafts attaching the suffix of the kula ie family to craft terms viz setthikula for bankers, Kumbhakarakula for potters.
  • There was a distinct increase in the no of guilds during this period Jatakas and Mahavastu mentions various such guilds of wood workers, smiths, leather workers etc.
  • Inscriptions in western Deccan mentions guilds like potters, flour makers, oil millers, bamboo workers etc so does inscription in Junnar and Nashik.
  • Tamil Brahmi inscription from Madurai mentions a Kavitti Antai Assutan who was the head of the guild of the Pandyas.
  • Guilds had close relationship with the kings and they used to escort kings in their entourage as mentioned in the Mugapakkha Jataka.
  • Smritis mentions the ==punishment to unruly guilds== and also specified the functions and powers of guild members.
  • @ Guilds also ==worked as bankers== where the interest from the invested money was to be given for religious causes as mentioned in the Mathura inscription of Huvishka, Junnar insc and Nashik inscription of Nahapana.
  • They issued coins, seals and sealings with the names of their locality/region or with their own names. Coins with the name of Pamchanekame referring to 5 guilds and Hiranyasvami have been found.

PYQs and Answers

Section titled “PYQs and Answers”
  1. Examine the role of guilds in the economic life of ancient India. [1982, 20m]
  1. How was overseas trade organized in South India up to 300 A.D.? Discuss this with special reference to Roman trade and point out its impact on Indian economy. [1984, 60m]
  1. Write a short essay on: “The role of guilds in the economic life of India from c. 200 B.C. to c. A.D. 300.” [1986, 20m]
  1. Assess the role of guilds and trade organizations in the development of early Indian economy. [2010, 30m]
  1. Justify Pliny’s statement the Rome was being drained out of its gold by India during the first century of the Christian era. [2012, 30m]
  1. Trace the role of guilds and trade organizations in the development of early Indian economy. [2015, 15m]