Pre-British Indian Economy

Indian Economy during the Pre-

British Period
The Indian economy in the pre-British period consisted of isolated and self-sustaining
villages on the one hand, and towns, which were the seats of administration, pilgrimage,
commerce and handicrafts, on the other. Means transport & communication were highly
underdeveloped and so the size of the market was very small.[1]

1. The structure and organization of villages:  The village community was based on
a simple division of labour.  The farmers cultivated the soil and tended cattle.
Similarly, there existed classes people called weavers, goldsmiths, carpenters,
potters, oil pressers, washer men, cobblers, barber-surgeons, etc.  All these
occupations were hereditary and passed by tradition from father to son. Most
of the food produced in the village was consumed by the village population
itself.  The raw materials produced from primary industries were the feed for
the handicrafts. Thus interdependence of agriculture and hand industry
provided the basis of the small village republics to function independently. 
The villages of India were isolated and self-sufficient units which formed an
enduring organization.  But this should not lead us to the conclusion that they
were unaffected by wars or political decisions. They did suffer the aggressors
and were forced to submit to exactions, plunder and extortion, but the absence
of the means of transport and communications and a centralized government
helped their survival.
2. Classes of Village India: There were three distinct classes in village India: (i) the
agriculturists, (ii) the village artisans and menials, and (iii) the village officials. 
The agriculturists could be further divided into the land-owning and the
tenants.  Labour and capital needed was either supplied by the producers
themselves out of their supplied by the producers themselves out of their
savings or by the village moneylender. These credit agencies supplied finance
at exorbitant rates of interest but since the moneylender and the landlord were
the only sources of credit, the peasants and even the artisans were forced to
depend on them. The village artisans and menials were the servants of the
village.  Most of the villages had their panchayats or bodies of village elders to
settle local disputes.  The panchayats were the court of justice.[2]

Condition of Agriculture during the Pre-British Period:

During the pre-British period, i.e., during the mid-eighteenth
century, the condition of Indian agriculture was not at all
satisfactory. During those days, agriculture was the main source of
livelihood in India. The economic condition of Indian agriculturists
was really very much painful.Poor farmers had to pay a high rate of
taxes as imposed by the then administrators of the country which
led to high degree of exploitation on these farmers. Moreover, the
land policy followed by the rulers of those days was mostly going
against the farmers and these policies were specially framed to serve
the interests of rulers and zamindars of India.

Industries and Urban Handicrafts during the Pre-British Period in

India:
Although agriculture had dominated the Indian economy during the
pre-British period yet some Indian industries, producing certain
special products, enjoyed worldwide reputation. During those days,
many of the handicrafts produced in the urban areas of India were
quite famous. Among all those various famous urban handicrafts,
textile handicrafts earned a special status and were also spread over
the whole country. During those days, the muslin of Dacca, silk
sarees of Benaras, shawls and carpets of Kashmir and Amritsar, the
calicos of Bengal, dhoti and dopattas of Ahmedabad, silk and
bordered cloth of Nagpur and Murshidabad etc. were very famous
and received much recognition in international markets. Moreover,
India was well known for her other artistic handicraft industries
which include jewellery made of gold and silver, brass, copper and
bell metal wares, marble work, carving works in ivory, wood, stone
etc. All these industries and handicrafts had its patronage of local
administrators for their gradual development.

Conditions of Transport and Trade during the Pre-British Period:

During the pre-British period, there were no proper transportation
systems in India. In the absence of pucca roads, different villages of
India were connected with dusty tracks. Naturally, most of the roads
become muddy during the rainy season and even some of the
villages were cut-off due to heavy rainfall followed by consequent
flood.

In respect of water transport, it was only in some parts of Northern

India where some rivers were navigable and small wooden country
boats were used for carrying passengers as well as freights. But in
most other part of the country, bullock carts and pack animals were
considered as the standard modes of transport. Thus under such a
condition, the movement of men and materials was very slow.
Thus, in fine, we can conclude that the transport system as well as
the market conditions in India during the pre-British period was
not at all satisfacty.[1]

1. “ Explain Indian Economy in the Pre-British Period.” BMS| Bachelor of Management

Studies, bms.co.in/explain- Indian- economy-in-the-pre-british-period/. Retrive 16 July
2022.
2. “Indian Economy during the Pre- British Period”. ECONOMIS DISCUSSION,
ecnomicdiscussion.net/Indian-econmy/Indian-economy-during-the-pre-british-preiod/
19001#:-:text=Indian%20 economy%2C%20 during%20the%20pre,%2C%20pilgrimage
%2C%20commerce%20and%20handicrafts.
Retrived 18 July 2022