A study of Sources of Medieval and Modern Indian Economic History

Abstract

Medieval and Modern Indian Economic History texts are vital for understanding the Indian subcontinent's economic evolution throughout centuries. This summarizes the main ideas and methods of this historical investigation. From the 6th until the 18th century, local and foreign causes shaped medieval India's economy. The study of its economic history uses historical documents, inscriptions, coinage, and archaeological evidence. These materials help academics reconstruct economic systems, trade networks, agrarian practices, and financial organizations from this time. Agriculture is a major focus of Medieval Indian Economic History. Land revenue systems, tenure, and agricultural production shaped the economy. To comprehend agrarian cultures, researchers study revenue records, agricultural treatises, and land grants. Trade routes, market towns, and foreign passenger records show that Medieval India's economy relied on trade and commerce. The Silk Road, marine trade with Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and urban expansion in Calicut and Surat are of interest. Monetary history is another essential aspect of this topic. Medieval Indian coins and currencies reveal economic activities, commerce, and state policy. Numismatics and epigraphy aid this research. In the Modern period, which begins around the 18th century, sources diversify and increase. Colonial records, official reports, and communications reveal economic policies, taxation, and British colonialism's impact on India's economy. The transformation from rural to industrial economies dominates Modern Indian Economic History. Scholars study new industries, railways, and India's globalization. For this period, statistical data, economic surveys, and official reports are important. Economic philosophy and ideology shaped India's economic history. Dadabhai Naoroji and Western economic theories are central to the story.