Question

Explain the system of land grants and trade from C. 600 BCE to 600 CE.

Answer 1

Answer:

The inscriptions on stones and copper plates are the main source of information to know about the system of land grants and trade from C.600 BCE to 600 CE.

Land Grants:

1. Grants were made to religious institutions and Samantas.

2. Brahmans were given Agrahara grants.

3. The system of giving land as grants was adopted as a strategic tool to extend Brahmanical practices and to provide scope for the expansion of agriculture.

4. The kings wanted to make allies as the weakening of the powers was evident.

Trade Practices:

1. Both Inland and overseas trade flourished.

2. Inland trade developed within the country whereas trade relations were established with Central and West Asia and Northern Africa.

3. Inland trade was done through the rivers.

4. Merchants used caravans and bullock cart while the peddlers travelled on foot to carry on their business.

5. Salt, timber, cloth, spices and medicinal plants were some of the items that were traded.

6. Punch marked coins were introduced to facilitate trade.

7. The texts written in Tamil and Pali provide us with enough information on the trade practices during the period.

The social and economic life of the people can be understood from the inscriptions and manuscripts.

Answer 2

System of Land Grants:

information available from stone inscriptions and copper plates

Grants made to religious institutions

13

iv,

Grants called agrahara grants were made to Brahmanas

Samantas were also given land

Prabhavati Gupta - example of agrahara grant made by a woman is an exception

Land grants were a strategy to extend agriculture and Brahmanical practices in new regions

vii, It also indicates weakening central power and the ruler's attempt to win allies

Rulers wanted to present themselves as supermen by granting lands

(any four points)

vii.

1 of System of trade:

Introduction of punch marked coins encouraged trade

Inland and overland trade existed

m. Various river routes in the sub continent were used for trade

iv. Overland and maritime trade existed with C. Asia, North Africa, West Asia etc

Inland trade connected various parts of the subcontinent

Peddlers travelled on foot and merchants on bullock cart caravans

Seafaring traders were highly successful

vii.

viii. Different rich merchant communities are mentioned in Pali and Tamil texts

Items like salt, grain, cloth, timber, spices and medicinal plants traded