Ancient India

Lesson 2: Economy and Polity in Ancient India 4th c. B.C.

Trade, Craft Production and Emergence of Urban Centres

CRAFT PRODUCTION
Along with trade, we also find the emergence of craft production like pottery, metals, weaving, etc. There were villages with settlements of artisans like carpenters. The people from neighbouring places used to come to these places to give orders for the production of certain artisan goods and also to repair agricultural implements.

The artisans also established their own guilds to protect their interests. Due to the specialization of certain economic activities, there was an emergence of large number of castes like potters, black smiths, gold smiths, carpenters, chariot makers, etc.

In fact, the chariot makers called rathakaras enjoyed a very respectable position even though later they lost this position. The artisans produced various weapons needed for the purpose of war. The artisans also produced many agricultural implements which increased agricultural production.

ARTISANS AND BRAHMANICAL TEXTS
The brahmanical texts do not give important social status to the artisans. They were given a lower status in the society. The artisans belonged to the sudra varna, the lowest in the varna hierarchy among all the varnas as envisaged by the brahmanas.

TRADE
As a result of increased agricultural production, surplus produce was used for the purpose of trade. There was the emergence of grahapati traders who participated in long distance trade. There is reference to urban centres like pura, nagara, nigama, etc. There is reference to trading communities like setthis and sarthavaha. We also find the emergence of trade guilds. The villages supplied the agricultural goods to the towns which were either consumed by the people of the towns or they were exported to other trade centres. Hence both internal and external trade developed. With this there was emergence of towns. Some of them were religious centres while others were administrative and trade centres.

RELIGIOUS URBAN CENTRES
The religious towns like for example Kasi or Benares were visited by Hindus from different parts of India. In these religious centres the traders established their shops to cater to the needs of people around the temple settlements.

ADMINISTRATION AND URBAN CENTRES
Kings also played a role in urbanization. The kings encouraged trade and commerce as it enhanced the revenue of the state. As a result, we find the kings establishing capitals which could be visited by trading communities. The kings bought luxury items like jewels, perfume, and precious stones from the traders. In the Buddhist texts there are several references to urban centres, urban culture, etc.

Reference:
1.R.S. Sharma, Material Culture and Social Formation in Ancient India, Macmillan, Delhi, 1983.

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