CHAPTER-23 : Crafts, Commerce, and Urban Growth (200 BC–AD 250)
Ancient History of India
OLD NCERT
Short Notes or Revision Notes
Crafts and Craftsmen in Ancient India
Variety of Crafts:
- Pre-Mauryan Era (Digha Nikaya):Nearly 20 occupations mentioned.
- Maurya Era (Mahavastu):36 crafts identified in Rajgir.
- Later Texts:
- Milinda Panho: 75 occupations, 60 related to crafts.
- The Garland of Madurai (Tamil text): Provides additional details.
Craft Centers and Products:
- Telangana Region (Andhra):
- Weapons, tools (balance rods, axes, hoes, sickles, ploughshares), razors, ladles.
- Iron and Steel:Exported to Africa, known for high quality.
- Textiles:
- Mathura – center for “shataka” cloth.
- South India – dyeing industry (vats found in Uraiyur and Arikamedu).
- Luxury Goods:
- Indian ivory found in Afghanistan and Rome (similar to Satavahana sites).
- Glassware:
- Roman glass found in Taxila and Afghanistan.
- Glass-blowing knowledge arrived around the Christian era.
Merchants and Trade in Ancient India
Types of Merchants:
- The Garland of Madurai:Describes bustling marketplaces and importance of shopkeepers (apana).
- Guilds (Sreni, Ayatana):Organized artisans and merchants (details unclear from texts).
- Merchant Hierarchy:
- Sresthi: Chief merchant of a city (nigama).
- Sarthavaha: Leader of merchant corporations (vanijgrama).
- Vanija: Various petty merchants.
- Agrivanija: Possibly predecessors of Agrawals (meaning unclear).
Trade Routes and Centers:
- Parthians:Obstructed India’s trade west of Iran despite importing iron and steel.
- Monsoon knowledge (around 1st century AD):Enabled direct sailing from east to west coasts of Arabian Sea, reaching ports like Broach, Sopara (west), Arikamedu, Tamralipti (east).
- Shakas & Kushans (North-West Trade):
- Two routes converged at Taxila, connected to Silk Route.
- 1st Route: Taxila – Lower Indus – Broach (direct north-south).
- 2nd Route (Uttarapatha): More frequent.
- Taxila – Punjab – Yamuna riverbank.
- Yamuna – Mathura – Ujjain (Malwa) – Broach.
- Ujjain connected to another route starting from Kaushambi (near Allahabad).
Imports and Exports in Ancient India
Roman Imports from India:
- Spices (south India)
- Muslin
- Pearls, jewels, precious stones (central/south India)
- Iron goods (especially cutlery)
Luxury Goods:
- Pearls, ivory, precious stones, animals
Other Imports:
- Kitchenware (possible)
- Cutlery (for upper class)
- Silk (indirectly from China via Central Asia)
Roman Exports to India:
- Wine
- Wine amphorae
- Pottery (found in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu)
- Lead (for coins)
Other Finds:
- Begram (Afghanistan): Glass jars, bowls, bronze stands, weights (Western origin)
- Taxila (Pakistan): Graeco-Roman sculptures, silver ornaments, Roman coins
Note: Arretine pottery (Roman) not found in central/western India or Afghanistan.
Chinese Exports to India (via Silk Route):
- Silk
Indian Exports to Southeast Asia (via Roman Empire):
- Unclear
Money and Urban Growth in Ancient India
Money (5th century BC onwards):
- Gold tribute paid to Iran (possibly from Sindh mines).
- Kushans:
- Gold dinar coins (became abundant under Guptas).
- Most copper coins in north/northwest India.
- Other dynasties using copper/bronze coins:
- Nagas (central India)
- Yaudheyas (eastern Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, UP)
- Mitras (Kaushambi, Mathura, Avanti, Ahichchhatra)
- Peak coinage period: 200 BC – 300 AD (Indian, Central Asian rulers, cities, tribes).
Urban Growth:
- North Indian Towns:
- Mentioned in literature and by Chinese pilgrims (Vaishali, Pataliputra, Varanasi, Kaushambi, Shravasti, Hastinapur, Mathura, Indraprastha).
- Flourished during Kushan period (1st-2nd century AD).
- Superior Kushan constructions found in excavations (Bihar, UP, Rajasthan).
- Examples: Chirand, Panr, Sonpur, Buxar (Bihar), Khairadih, Mason (eastern UP), Sohgaura, Bhita, Kaushambi, Shringaverapur, Atranjikhera (UP), Rangmahal (Rajasthan).
- Sachnan Kot (UP): Largest Kushan town found so far (9 sq. km).
- Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ropar (Punjab), Haryana sites: Show quality Kushan constructions (often reused by Guptas).
- Ujjain:Major trade center due to its location (routes from Kaushambi, Mathura) and agate/carnelian exports.
- South Indian Towns (Satavahana Kingdom):
- Flourished alongside Shaka and Kushan kingdoms.
- Examples: Tagar, Paithan, Dhanyakataka, Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, Broach, Sopara, Arikamedu, Kaveripattanam.
Connection between Urban Growth and Trade Routes:
- Towns in Punjab and western UP thrived due to the Kushan power center in the northwest.
- Many Kushan towns lay on the Uttarapatha route (Mathura – Taxila).