write a short note on the nature of trade and industry during Mauryan Times
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The Mauryan period and even earlier, there was irrevocable linkage between various industries trade. The location of the industries expended on two factors, namely, the availability f raw materials and manpower. Some of the important industries and trade of the period are cussed below.
Textiles:
The manufacture of textiles seems to average been in the same flourishing condition as the Mauryas. The enumeration of textile (abrics in the Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain of this period is almost as extensive as in utilya's Arthashastra.
The list comprises stuffs of cotton, linen (kshauma), dukula (made from the fibres of that plant), silk (from the cocoons of iiUtworms),/7flrra/7ia (washed silk?) sheep's wool and the hair of other animals, as well as clothes broidered with patterns or with gold thread, even hear of cloth woven wholly of gold ead.
Very fine varieties of cottons, linens and liens are mentioned. A pair of cotton gar- ents worth one thousand karshapanas is mentioned in a story. In the Ramayana, the Mahab- harata and other works, linen and woollen garments often figure as highly prized objects, while hemp held the lowest place in the list of textiles.
Mining & Metallurgy:
Compared to the wealth of material available in the Arthashastra, we have only the scantiest information about the condition of the mining and metallurgical industries during this period. Still Pliny observed that India had neither brass nor lead, but exchanged precious stones and pearls for them.
It was no doubt because of this scarcity that copper, tin and lead had to be imported into Barygaza and the Malabar ports in the latter half of the first century A.D. On the other hand, according to the testimony of the Periplus, the manufacture of Indian iron and steel was so advanced in quality and quantity that they were exported from Ariaca (Kathiawar and the adjoining inland country) to East Africa. Indian gold was almost as scarce as copper, tin, and lead.
Gems and Jewellery:
In the first centuries Christ, the phenomenal increase in the Ro demand for India's pearls and gems was facility by the direct voyages of the Western merchan India. In the first century A.D., according to author of the Periplus, pearl-fisheries operated off Colchi' (Korkai on the Tamrap' river in the Pandya kingdom) and off the country' (i.e. Cholamandalam), which correspond respectively to the Gulf of Manner and the P Strait. Both were evidently state monopolies, while the former was worked by condemn criminals, the output of the latter was required be sold only at the state capital.
Wood Crafts:
Carpentry was a long-established trade, and the Jatakas make many references to woodwork, including shipbuilding, house-building and the making of carts, chariots, and machines of various types.
Amis & Armaments:
It is not necessary to go into the details of other crafts mentioned in the literary works of the time, such as the manufacture of dyes, gums, drugs, perfumes and so on, as well as of pottery. But a word may be said on the making of implements and weapons of war.
Indirect references in the Mahabharata suggest that the preparation of costly skins and furs was, as in the time of Kautilya, a valued industry in the north-western Himalayas as well as Eastern India. In the Mahabharata, ivory products of Eastern India are also mentioned.
At the time of the Periplus, Dasarna (Eastern Malwa) gave its name to a species of ivory well known to the Greek traders of the west coast. Earlier, the ivory-workers of Vidisha, the capital of East Malwa, recorded their donation on a gateway of the Great Stupa at Sanchi. Ivory was used for making hair-combs, dice, and other small objects as well as ornamental sword-hilts, armour and the like.
Interest, Profits and Wages the Smriti law of this period deals with the topics of interest, profits and wages which are characteristic of an advanced economy. Loans were either secured or unsecured by pledges, and were given either in cash or in kind, while the debtors included merchants traversing forests or the high seas for gain. The law relating to interest shows an interesting development
Textiles:
The manufacture of textiles seems to average been in the same flourishing condition as the Mauryas. The enumeration of textile (abrics in the Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain of this period is almost as extensive as in utilya's Arthashastra.
The list comprises stuffs of cotton, linen (kshauma), dukula (made from the fibres of that plant), silk (from the cocoons of iiUtworms),/7flrra/7ia (washed silk?) sheep's wool and the hair of other animals, as well as clothes broidered with patterns or with gold thread, even hear of cloth woven wholly of gold ead.
Very fine varieties of cottons, linens and liens are mentioned. A pair of cotton gar- ents worth one thousand karshapanas is mentioned in a story. In the Ramayana, the Mahab- harata and other works, linen and woollen garments often figure as highly prized objects, while hemp held the lowest place in the list of textiles.
Mining & Metallurgy:
Compared to the wealth of material available in the Arthashastra, we have only the scantiest information about the condition of the mining and metallurgical industries during this period. Still Pliny observed that India had neither brass nor lead, but exchanged precious stones and pearls for them.
It was no doubt because of this scarcity that copper, tin and lead had to be imported into Barygaza and the Malabar ports in the latter half of the first century A.D. On the other hand, according to the testimony of the Periplus, the manufacture of Indian iron and steel was so advanced in quality and quantity that they were exported from Ariaca (Kathiawar and the adjoining inland country) to East Africa. Indian gold was almost as scarce as copper, tin, and lead.
Gems and Jewellery:
In the first centuries Christ, the phenomenal increase in the Ro demand for India's pearls and gems was facility by the direct voyages of the Western merchan India. In the first century A.D., according to author of the Periplus, pearl-fisheries operated off Colchi' (Korkai on the Tamrap' river in the Pandya kingdom) and off the country' (i.e. Cholamandalam), which correspond respectively to the Gulf of Manner and the P Strait. Both were evidently state monopolies, while the former was worked by condemn criminals, the output of the latter was required be sold only at the state capital.
Wood Crafts:
Carpentry was a long-established trade, and the Jatakas make many references to woodwork, including shipbuilding, house-building and the making of carts, chariots, and machines of various types.
Amis & Armaments:
It is not necessary to go into the details of other crafts mentioned in the literary works of the time, such as the manufacture of dyes, gums, drugs, perfumes and so on, as well as of pottery. But a word may be said on the making of implements and weapons of war.
Indirect references in the Mahabharata suggest that the preparation of costly skins and furs was, as in the time of Kautilya, a valued industry in the north-western Himalayas as well as Eastern India. In the Mahabharata, ivory products of Eastern India are also mentioned.
At the time of the Periplus, Dasarna (Eastern Malwa) gave its name to a species of ivory well known to the Greek traders of the west coast. Earlier, the ivory-workers of Vidisha, the capital of East Malwa, recorded their donation on a gateway of the Great Stupa at Sanchi. Ivory was used for making hair-combs, dice, and other small objects as well as ornamental sword-hilts, armour and the like.
Interest, Profits and Wages the Smriti law of this period deals with the topics of interest, profits and wages which are characteristic of an advanced economy. Loans were either secured or unsecured by pledges, and were given either in cash or in kind, while the debtors included merchants traversing forests or the high seas for gain. The law relating to interest shows an interesting development
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