Commerce and Industry in the Pre-Mughal Period
Summary
This survey of India’s pre‑Mughal economy draws on chronicles, travellers’ accounts and regional histories to depict a network of internal trade linking agrarian hinterlands to urban markets and overseas ports. Textile production emerges as a major industry, with centres in Gujarat, Bengal and the Deccan exporting cotton, silk and muslin. The article describes mining and metallurgy, guild organisation of crafts and the role of royal patronage. It details how political fragmentation during the Sultanate period created multiple courts that stimulated local industries and monetisation. Trade routes connected India with Persia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia via ports like Cambay and Calicut. Despite occasional famines, the author argues, commerce and industry flourished and provided employment for millions beyond agriculture, contributing to general prosperity.
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Conclusion
By synthesising diverse sources, the article portrays a dynamic pre‑Mughal economy marked by specialised crafts, strong guilds and extensive trade. It challenges notions of economic stagnation before the Mughal era and shows that regional courts and ports fostered innovation and exchange.