Beyond Borders

ISBN-13: 9783031435928 / Angielski / Twarda / 2023

Ashish Kumar

Opis

This book examines the economic history of ancient South Asia by situating the Malwa region of Central India within Afro-Eurasian trade networks to illuminate the role of traders in the political, religious and economic processes connected with the Indo-Sasanian trade in the period of five centuries, circa CE 300-700.
The book challenges the long-held centrality of the Roman factor in the South Asian economy by locating the Indo-Sasanian interactions in long distance economic networks with trade as a central feature. It considers the role and influence of traders as an understudied group affecting the contribution of the Indian economy to the world system. Amidst rapidly changing political landscapes, traders of Indian and Sasanian origins are studied as conscious political beings, who formed ties with varieties of polities and religious communities to secure their commercial interests. In addition, their commercial interactions with their Sogdian (Central Asia) and Aksumite (East Africa) counterparts are analyzed. The book also considers the nature of trade routes and the specific connections between mercantile and religious networks, including patterns of construction of religious shrines and temples along trade routes. Integrating epigraphic, numismatic, literary and archaeological evidence, this book moves away from a marginal treatment of the Indo-Sasanian trade in Indian history, and demonstrates how regional economic history must address a plurality of causes, actors, and processes in its assessment of the regional economy. The book will be of interest to students and academics of Indian economic history, as well as the ancient economies of South Asia more broadly.

Spis treści

1. Introduction: A step away from the long shadow of colonial Europe

I. The Afro-Eurasian Economy

II. Ancient India in the Afro-Eurasian World

III. Theoretical Framework and Methodology

IV. Outline of the Book

References

2. The Wider World of Indo-Sasanian Interactions

I. Political Landscapes of Indo-Sasanian Interactions

Sasanian Iran, Central Asia and Northwest India

Western India, Sind and Malwa

II. Sasanian Iran and India after Mihirakula

III. Conclusion

References

3. Trade Networks, Metallic Currency, and the Huns in Early India

I.       The Huns and the Indo-Sasanian coins

II.      Trade Networks in Central and Western India

III.     A Naigama’s Fight Against the Huns

IV.    Conclusion

References

4. The Commodities, the Producers and the Consumers: Defining Markets

I.       India and the Persian Gulf

II.      The Indo-Sasanian Trade

III.     Commodities, Their Producers and Consumers

IV.    New Markets- The Sacred Centers

V.     Conclusion

References

5. Christian and Sogdian Traders, and the Indo-Sasanian Trade

I.       Christian Traders in Iran, India and Sri Lanka

II.      Sogdian, Persian and Indian Traders

III.     Conclusion

References

6. Trade Routes, Traders and the Making of the Sacred Landscapes

I.       Religious Sites in Malwa: In Cities and on Trade Routes

Vidisha-Badoh-Eran

Bagh-Mahishmati

Dashapura-Nagari

II.      Intersection of Beliefs, and the Making of ‘Ritual Economy’

III.     Traders, Seafarers and Their Saviour Divinities

IV.    Conclusion

References

7. India's Ancient Economy: How does this book differ from available writings?

I. The Oriental Economy

II. Economy of Buddhist India

III. India’s Hindu Economy

IV. Hindu Imperialism

V. Material Foundations of Ancient India  

VI. Maritime Networks of Ancient India

VII. Conclusion

References

8. Conclusion: Theorizing the Indo-Sasanian Trade

I.       Multi-Faith Participants

II.      Intersection between Trade and Politics

III.     Professional Groups and Private Networks

IV.    Multidimensional and Multidirectional Exchange

References

O autorze

Ashish Kumar is Assistant Professor in the Department of History, Panjab University, Chandigarh (India). His area of specialization is ancient and early medieval history of India with a special interest in the history of political processes and connected economic and religious developments.