Old NCERT Summary (RS Sharma): Crafts, Trade, and Towns in the Post-Maurya Age | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Introduction

• Post-Mauryan age, dating back 2000 years, marked by prolific coinage, trade, crafts, and arts.
• Chandragupta Maurya, ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty, recognized by the Greeks, notably established the first PAN India empire.
• With guidance from his mentor Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya oversaw the empire's formation, focusing on economy, military, and culture as outlined in Kautilya's Arthashastra.
• Chandragupta Maurya, aided by Ashoka, glorified ancient India and the Mauryan Empire.
• Post-Mauryan era saw a decline post-Ashoka's demise but thrived through internal trade, expanded commerce, and the spread of Buddhism.

About the Post-Mauryan Age

• The Mauryan Age marked a significant period in Indian history, characterized by the glory and dominance of the Mauryan Empire over the northern regions and the Gangetic Valley. This era also witnessed a remarkable degree of political unity.
• Following the decline of the Mauryan Empire, the Post-Mauryan Age emerged, paving the way for the rise of the Gupta Empire around the third century BC.
• This era was defined by heightened attention to India's political landscape, as foreign invaders exerted control over the land. It was a time of significant coinage extraction and marked the downfall of the Mauryan Empire.
• Subsequent to the empire's decline, India experienced a prolonged period of division, during which Buddhism proliferated across the country, influencing the societal fabric.
• The rise of the Gupta Empire heralded a new chapter in Indian history, bringing with it political consolidation and prosperity to the region.

Post-Mauryan Age: Trade

• The post-Mauryan era witnessed a significant rise in both domestic and international trade activities.
• In ancient India, two crucial land trade routes, namely Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha, played pivotal roles in connecting the eastern and northern regions of the country.
• Among these routes, Uttarapatha emerged as the more frequently used path for trade.

Key Trade Routes and Ports

• The trade network extended from Ujjain in Malwa to Broach on the western coast, with Broach being a bustling port that served as a hub for trade activities.
• Goods produced in regions like Shaka, Kushana, and the Satavahana kingdoms were commonly traded at Broach.

Major Trading Practices

• Coin minting, involving gold, silver, and copper, was a prevalent trade activity during this period.
• Occasionally, artisans resorted to producing counterfeit coins.

Trade Connections with Rome and China

• Trade relations flourished between India and Rome, with goods flowing between the two regions.
• Silk products, primarily imported from China, were redirected to the western ports of India.
• The silk trade route facilitated exchanges between India, Rome, and China.
• Various commodities were transported from India to the Roman Empire through different trade routes.

Geographical Trade Routes

• Business transactions originating from Taxila traversed through Punjab to reach the western bank of the river Yamuna, eventually extending to the southern Mathura region.
• Additionally, the export of silk to the Roman Empire from China was facilitated through the northern regions of Iran.

Post-Mauryan Age: Crafts

• The period between 200 BCE to 200 CE, known for its flourishing trade, commerce, and crafts, marked a significant era in Indian history.
• The Digya-Nikaya, a part of this period, documented around 24 different occupations.
• Artisans in the town of Rajgir were diverse, with some residing in villages as evidenced by archaeological sites.
• Rapid advancements in mining and metallurgy were prominent, utilizing materials like gold, silver, iron, and precious stones.
• Inscriptions highlighted the presence of various skilled workers such as goldsmiths, weavers, dyers, and metalworkers.
• Workers involved in fisheries and perfume-making primarily hailed from the eastern regions of Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
• In the Kushana regions, exceptional terracotta artifacts were discovered, particularly in the Nalgonda district.

Post-Mauryan Age: Towns

• The emergence of trade during this period led to the development of multiple towns within the Kushana empire. These towns engaged in commerce with the eastern regions of the Roman Empire and central Asia.
• Towns in regions like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab flourished due to the bustling trade activities in the Kushana and Satavahana empires of India.
• Among these towns, Ujjain stood out as a significant hub because of its well-established internal trade network. However, with the decline of the Kushana Empire, the towns suffered severe consequences.
• Trade restrictions between India and the Roman Empire further weakened the towns, impacting the livelihoods of traders and artisans in the southern Deccan region.
• Evidence from archaeological findings suggests that the decline of towns commenced post the Satavahana era.

Conclusion

The Pushpamitra Sungha caused the end and the downfall of the Mauryan Empire. The empire started in a declining phase when Ashoka passed away. The general of Pushpamitra Sungha defeated the last king of the empire. The era was all about the production of coins in the country and one of the important characteristics of the period was the expansion of trade all over the country. The only important trade was the Uttarapatha trade in the northern regions of the country.