CONTENTS Preface (v) 1. Introduction 1 2. Evolution of Material Culture: Us Scope and Importance 25 o Method of Enquiry o Difficulties in Reconstructing Indian Economic History Other Literary Works and their Evidence o Arthasastra 3. Intellectual Advancement and Material Progress in Pre Indus Civilisation 47 o Environment and Natural Wealth o Economic Considerations about the Fauna o New Settlement and Material Advancement 4. The Economy of the Indus Civilization 73 o Agrarian Economy o Crops Cultivation o Water and Irrigation o Animal Husbandry o Faunal Collections o Hunting and Gathering of Forest Resources o Mercantile Economy o Weights and Measures o Seals o Distribution Mechanisms o South Asian Trade and Exchange o Procurement Centers o Overland Trade Across the Iranian Plateau o Gulf Trade o Nature of Sumerian-Harappan Trade Relations 5. The Aryans Settlement and their Economic Progress125 o Original Home of the Aryans o The Primitive Aryans and the Indo-Aryans o Division into Periods o Social Organisation o The Vedic Village or the Grama o Ownership of Village Land o Nature of Private Ownership o Idea of Village Corporation o Growth of Towns o Development of Agriculture o Cultivated Plants o Agricultural Implements and Irrigation o Agricultural Labour o The Agriculturist's Ideal o Sheep and Cattle-Rearing o Hunting and Fishing o Growth of Arts and Crafts o Knowledge of and Working in Metals o Labour and Occupations o Non-Industrial and Menial Occupations o Labour o Existence of Guilds o Trade and Commerce o Maritime Trade o Exchange-Its Methods and Mediums o Us of Gold as Medium of Exchange o Soc Jo-Economic Life in the Vedic Age o The Vedic House o Household Furniture and Implements o Domestic Labour and Household Economy o The Vedic Householder's Condition o Capitalism o Money Dealings and Debts o Development of a Landed Aristocract o Social Inequalities 6. Economic Background of Epic Society 207 o Agricultural Economy o Trade 7. Buddhist Economy: Concept and Practice 247 o State Revenue o Industrial Specialisation o Trade Mechanism o Exchange Mechanism 8. Mauryan Politics and Political Economics 269 o Economic Regulations o Emergence of a Mercantile Community o Existence of Slaves Revenue and Taxation o People Participation and State Control 9. Economic Regulations and Industrial Development under the Gupta Rule 313 o Development of Art and Crafts o Urbanisation Guild Society o Corporate Regulation and Industrial Life o System of Exchange 10. Economic Life under Ilarsha Rule 341 o Agrarian Economy o Ownership of Land and Property o Development of Various Industries o Commerce and Trade o Commercial Relations with Foreign Countries o Coinage Under Harsha o Urbanisation Bibliography 353 Index 365