IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India History From 8th to 15th Century - Trade and Commerce

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History India From 8th to 15th Century

Trade and Commerce

Structure

3.0 Objectives
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Trade : Definition and Phases
3.3 The First Phase (c. A.D. 700-900)
3.3.1 Media of Exchange
3.3.2 Relative Decline of Trade
3.3.3 Urban Settlements : Decay
3.4 , The Second Phase (c. A.D. 900-1300)
3.4.1 Crafts and Industry
3.4.2 Coins and other Media of Exchange
3.5 Aspects of Trade
3 5.1 Inland Trade a) Commod~ties of Trade and their Consumers. and
b) Trade Routes and Means of Communications
3.5.2 Maritime Trade a) The Chief Participants
b) Cornmoditla Exchanged
c) Ports
d) Safety and Security of Merchants
3.5.3 Revival of Towns
3.6 Let Us Sum Up
3.7 Key Words
3.8 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

3.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this Unit you should be able to explain:
the importance of trade and commerce in the overall economic history of India ,during the six centuries between c.A.D. 700 and c.A.D. 1300,
the historical features of trade in two broad phases: i) c.700-900 and ii) c.900- 1300,
the relationship between trade and commerce with i) metallic-currency, ii) village economy and iii) towns,
the role of crafts and industry in the trade operations,
about the commodities of trade and their consumers-both in the inland a&' foreign trade,
the principal trade routes and means of communication, and
the role of political authorities in furthering the intemsts of traders merchants.