Economic Organisation in Ancient India (200 BC-200 AD)

Contents: Preface. 1. Background of the study. 2. Physical environment affecting economic set-up. 3. Social set-up and organisation. 4. Agriculture and land-ownership. 5. Animal life and fisheries. 6. Industries, handicrafts and mining. 7. Trade, commerce and profit. 8. Means and modes of transport. 9. Labour conditions and social security. 10. Capital, currency and credit. 11. State and economy in ancient India. 12. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.

"This work throws a flush of multi-coloured light on the Economic Organization in Ancient India from 200 BC to 200 AD. Due to the advent of alien tribes in India, this period opened new vistas of transitional era and ventilated new air of thoughtful broodings, establishing sound venues in the economic field of India making a peep into India’s ties with neighbouring and distant countries in the spheres of trade and commerce, transport and communication.

The present work is not merely a survey but a microscopic and complete reexamination of the prevailing concepts including land-ownership, land-tenureship, state and economy, fiscal policy and taxation. Thus it presents a panoramic revelation of commerce and economics in history with an humble approach of intensifying the cultural heritage of India. Unlike other nations, economic conditions in India have always closely been interwoven with her socio-cultural fabric throughout the pages of history. In modern times, to speak of ‘pure economics’ in India will be a misnomer to a large extent. In this light, the present work should not only be looked with an academician’s eye, but also from the point of view of those whose interest of study lie in researches of history as it envisage to unveil the spheres of economics and planning in modern times." (jacket)