Question

Short note on role of guilds in ancient India

Answer 1

Shreni, in  the context of Ancient India was an association of traders, merchants, and artisans. generally a separate shreni existed for a particular group of person engaged in the same vocation or activity. shrenis have sometimes compared with the guilds. however, persons engaged in life destroying activities like hunting and fishing did not form any guilds.

Answer 2

This Thesis entitled 'Guilds in Ancient India: 500 B.C. to 500 A.D.' is a research on the conditions of the laboring class from the Vedic period to the Gupta age. It is divided into six chapters viz. (1) Introduction to Guilds, (2) Origin, (3) Growth, (4) Organization, (5) Functions and (6) Decline of the Guilds. An attempt has been made to give a comprehensive account of this important facet of the Indian social set-up in ancient times on the basis of variety of original sources. The study of the data, culled from different sources in the broad context of the historical development of the Indian people, has brought into bold relief some little known facets of this important subject. An honest attempt has been made to bring the slightest of hidden facts into the forefront.