Ch. 6. The Rise of the Mercantile Community (200B.C.E-300 C.E.)

1. Ch. 6. The Rise of the Mercantile Community (200B.C.E-300 C.E.) Trade, Guilds Foreign contacts West and East Colonization Language and lit

2. Political disunity- Trade • Political events were confusing, but one underlying factor- that was consistent: trade. • All through the vicissitudes of Shakas, Indo-Greeks, Shatavahanas, Cholas and Chalukyas- the merchants continued to develop. • Asoka- constructed a number of roads- as he united and found a large empire. • Indo-Greeks- in north west facilitated trade with the western world. • Like wise, Kushans, Parthians and Shakas- improved trade with China • Roman trade with South- • South also imported from Southeast Asia

3. Guilds • As traders became successful they supported the new religions • Jainism and Buddhism prospered during this time. • Guilds became an important factor in urban life. • Guilds: organized production, shaping public opinion. • Majority of the artisans joined the guilds- because it was difficult for them to compete as individuals

4. Guilds • Guilds had to registed with the local authorities- if they moved they had to obtain permission from the authorities. • Most crafts had guilds • Leading guilds: potters, metal workers and carpenters. • They are large • Ex. A wealthy potter named Saddalaputra owned 500 potters workshops- ships • Guilds were even larger

5. Functions of guilds • Fixed rules of work and quality of product. • Pricing • Guild court- to govern the members • Customary practice was law • Guilds intervened in the personal matters also • Ex. If a wife wants to join Buddhist monastery as a nun, she has to obtain permission, not only from her husband, but from the guild also • Guild- contained all the members of the caste- children followed their father- hereditary professions • Sub-castes changed professions

6. Artisans • In addition to guilds there are also workers co-operatives • Generally included artisans associated with particular enterprise • Eg. Temple building- had cooperatives of architects, engineers, and brick layers • Excavations revealed a number of seals of guilds and corporations • The banners and insignia were carried in festivals • Also used for advertising

7. Donations • Guilds- donated to religious institutions • Nasik cave- temple built by guild of weavers • Similarly in Sanchi and Vidisa • Guilds did not try for political power • Royalty also invested in the guilds because the returns are good • The guilds- did not try for political power- because it is difficult to obtain loyalty of other guilds- which is difficult to obtain because of caste rules

8. Banking • The guilds also acted as banker, financier and trustee • New currency indicates the activities • 15% interest on loans • More for loans involving maritime trade • Coinage: gold: Nishka, suvarna and pala • Silver: Shatamana • Copper: kakini • Weights and measures- complex and uniform

9. Industry, Mining and Maritime trade • Industry- close to resources • Women were employed in cotton textiles • Magadha- iron • Copper- Rajasthan, deccan • South Indian kingdoms specialized in maritime trade • Cholas- biggest maritime kingdom • Most profitable overseas trade was- Roman trade

10. Maritime trade • Yavanas have trading posts in the south • Periplus of the Erythrian sea- • Gives details of good carried from different ports • Jordan linked- red sea routes with West Asia • Towns on the persian gulf received luxury goods- copper, teak, sandalwood, tea and sent- pearls, purple dye, wine, dates, gold, and slaves • Ports on the west- Broach (Barykacha), Barbaricum on Indus delta. • Arikamedu- south- Roman trading center

11. Roman trade • A number of roman coin hoards were found in South India • Mostly the coins of August and Tiberius • Later debased coins of Nero were not found • Rome faced the 3rd c crisis because of economic drain • 550 million sesterces went to India each year • Luxury goods to Rome- not a favorable trade for Rome

12. Roman trade • Roman contacts in the north were indirect • Taxila just acted as the trade point • Rome and Parthia- conflict- so Rome got things indirectly from India • India traded with Southeast Asia- Burma, Srilanka • Malaya, Java, Sumatra, Combodia, and Borneo

18. Influences • Roman and Greek ideas seen in the north India • Indian fables traveled westward and appeared in lit • Chaturanga- Chess went from India • Number of western texts on India: • Strabo’s Geography • Arrian’s Indica • Pliny, the elder- natural history, the periplus of the Erethrean sea • Ptolemy- Geography

19. Cultural contacts • Hybrid of Indian and Greek art- Gandhara Art • Religion- introduced into India- Manichaeism, Zorostrianism • Indian kingdoms sent embassies to Rome- • One was sent in 25 B.C. E to Augustus: • Tigers, pheasants, snakes, tortoises, a monk etc

20. Contacts with East • Contacts with east also- • Chinese cloth- China patta • Bamboo- Ki-chok- Kichaka • Buddhist missionaries to China • White horse monastery at Lo-Yang • Number of monasteries in China: Yarkhand, Khotan, Kashgar, Tashkent, Turfan, Miran, Kuchi, Dunhuang caves

21. Colonization • Kalingans colonized Irawady delta in Burma • Indian prince, Kaundinya married a Cambodian princess and introduced Indian culture into Cambodia • Number of foreigners in Indian towns- led to rigid social system • Codification of Manu-dharma sastra

22. assimilation • Conversion into Hinduism was difficult- but groups slowly assimilated • Indo-Greeks given ‘fallen ksatriya’ status • Guilds also provided education • Two of the sciences that benefited from contacts with west are- astronomy and medicine • Medical texts were written now- • Ayurveda- imbalance of three substances of body- Air, bile and phlegm- led to sickness • Charaka- contemporary of Kanishka • Susruta • Wrote medical texts

23. language • Sanskrit- evolved as an important language- • Grammer of Patanjali- called Mahabhashya • Budhists-education to any one • But Hindu- on class basis Literature, art and architecture and religion for next class.