An Interdisciplinary Study of the Economy in Ancient India

This project, titled “An Interdisciplinary Study of the Economy in Ancient India,” aims to explore the nature and development of economic life in ancient India by using a combined approach drawn from the disciplines of history, economics, and sociology. The goal is not just to trace economic activities such as farming or trade, but to understand how these were shaped by social systems, political structures, and religious practices. The project focuses on important aspects like agriculture, land ownership, trade and commerce, artisan production, the role of guilds, state control, and the participation of different social groups, including women.

The study covers the period from the early Vedic Age to the early medieval period, looking at both continuity and change in economic practices. This wide timeframe allows for a deeper understanding of how economic systems evolved in response to political expansion, religious ideas, and social transformations. The economy of ancient India was not a separate sector but was closely linked with institutions such as caste, kingship, and religious donation. Therefore, this project attempts to go beyond a simple description of economic life and instead analyse the deeper connections between economic activity and society.

To conduct this study, both primary and secondary sources have been used. Key literary texts include the Arthashastra, the Rigveda, the Jataka stories, and Sangam literature, which provide valuable insights into state policy, taxation, trade, and occupations. Archaeological and material sources such as inscriptions, coins, and urban remains have also been consulted to support the textual evidence. The project is further informed by IGNOU course materials (ESO-15 and BHIC-132), along with the works of noted historians like R.S. Sharma, Irfan Habib, Romila Thapar, and D.N. Jha.

The method used is thematic and interdisciplinary. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of the economy, such as agrarian production, long-distance trade, or the functioning of merchant guilds, while also linking it to the social and political framework of the time. Concepts like caste-based labour divisions, surplus production, monetization, and state intervention are used carefully, with historical context in mind. The report also reflects on the different regional patterns of economic life in ancient India.

The findings of the project show that the economy of ancient India was complex, diversified, and regionally dynamic. Agriculture formed the base of the economy, but trade, artisanal production, and state-managed revenue systems also played major roles. Cities developed as centres of both commerce and culture, and guilds (shrenis) functioned not only as trade bodies but also as social institutions with their own rules and traditions. The state, especially during the Mauryan and Gupta periods, had a significant role in regulating production, managing resources, and collecting taxes. While women's participation in the economy was limited by social norms, there is evidence of their presence in certain areas of trade, craft work, and property ownership.

In conclusion, this project helps in understanding the ancient Indian economy as a living and changing system, deeply tied to society, belief systems, and governance. By combining different disciplines, the study offers a fuller picture of how people in ancient India produced, exchanged, and managed resources. It also provides useful insights into the historical roots of many social and economic practices that still influence Indian society today.