what was the condition of trade in India during the post mauryan period
Answers
The post-Mauryan economy was based on the growth of agriculture, internal and long distance trade and on crafts and arts.
The most important development of the period was the flourishing trade between India and the Western world.
Improved internal communication system under the Mauryas was responsible for the growth of trade and commerce in the post-Mauryan phase.
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Land routes to South India developed during this period along the river valleys and the coasts and routes through mountain passes that helped trade and commerce. A landmark in the growth of external trade and commerce was the discovery of the monsoon winds by the Greek sailor Hippolus in around AD 46—47.
This made possible, navigation across the Arabian Sea, by reducing the distance between Indian and west Asian ports. The invasions of the Indo-Greeks, Kushans and the Sakas increased and deepened contacts between India and western and central Asia. Central Asia acted as a link between China and India as Indian merchants acted as intermediaries in the silk trade of China. While the merchants of north-western India mostly traded with western and central Asia and China, the merchants of western and southern India concentrated on South Arabia, the Red Sea and Alexandria, which handled the bulk of the Roman trade.
The emergence of the Roman Empire was beneficial to the Indian trading community. The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, written by an anonymous Greek navigator, records that Indians exported pepper, pearls, ivory, silk, diamonds, saffron, precious stones, tortoise shell and spikenard and imported topaz, thin cloth, linen, antimony, crude glass, copper, tin, lead, wine and wheat.
The discovery of red glazed arretine ware at excavations of Arikemedu near Pondicherry (now Pondicherry) makes us believe that the Romans not only exported this item but also had a settlement in that locality. So far, 68 hoards of gold and silver coins have been unearthed in India and interestingly nearly 57 hoards have been found south of the Vindhyas.
Indians received as their share of profit nearly 50 million Sesterces (Roman currency) per year and this made Pliny remark that Rome was at disadvantage due to the favourable balance of payments towards India.The phenomenal increase of long distance trade led to the vogue of money-economy during this period. While the imported coins were used as bullion, the indigenously minted coins were used for day-to-day transactions. Very few gold coins were minted by the Indo-Greeks, which the Kushans minted in considerable numbers.
The phenomenal increase of long distance trade led to the vogue of money-economy during this period. While the imported coins were used as bullion, the indigenously minted coins were used for day-to-day transactions. Very few gold coins were minted by the Indo-Greeks, which the Kushans minted in considerable numbers.