Traders Big and Small Banjaras

Traders Big and Small Banjaras : There were many kinds of traders. These included the Banjaras. Several traders, especially horse traders, formed associations, with headmen who negotiated on their behalf with warriors who bought horses. Since traders had to pass through many kingdoms and forests, they usually traveled in caravans and formed guilds to protect their interests.

There were several such guilds in south India from the eighth century onwards- the most famous being the Manigramam and Nanadesi. These guilds traded extensively both within the peninsula and with Southeast Asia and China. These were also communities like the Chettiars and the Marwari Oswal who went on to become3 the principal trading groups of the country. Gujarati traders, including the communities of Hindu Baniyas and Muslium Bohras, traded extensively with the ports of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa, Southeast Asia and china. They sold textiles and spices in these ports and, in exchange, brought gold and ivory from Africa; and spices, tin, Chinese blue pottery and silver from Southeast Asia and China.

The towns on the west coast were home to Arab, Persian, Chinese, Jewish and Syrian Christian traders. Indian spices and cloth sold in the Red Sea ports were purchased by Italian traders and eventually reached European markets, fetching very high profits. Spices grown in tropical climates (pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried, ginger,etc.) became an important part of European cooking, and cotton cloth was very attractive.

The craftspersons of Bidar were so famed for their inlay work in copper and silver that it came to be called Bidri. The Panchalas or Vishwakarma community, consisting of goldsmiths, bronzesmiths, blacksmiths, masons and carpenters, were essential to the building to temples. They also played an important role in the construction of palaces, big buildings, tanks and reservoirs. Similarly, weavers such as the saliyar or kaikkolars emerged as prosperous communities, making donations to temples. Some aspects of cloth making like cotton cleaning, spinning and dyeing became specialized and independent crafts.

Importance of Small Traders and Big traders

Many types of traders were present during the period. Many traders, especially horse traders, formed associations with headmen who negotiated their horse sale with warriors who bought horses. Traders who had to travel long distances, passing through many kingdoms and forests, travelled in caravans and formed guilds to protect their interests. From the eighth century onwards, there were many guilds in south India. The most famous among these were Manigramam and Nandesi. These guilds traded extensively within the peninsula and also with Southeast Asia and China. The Banjaras were also included in traders.

Other trading communities were Chettiars, Marwari Oswal and Gujarati traders. The Marwari Oswal became the principal trading group of India in due course of time. The Gujarati traders included the communities of Hindu Baniyas and Muslim Bohras. The Gujarati traders traded extensively with the ports of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, China, East Africa and Southeast Asia. They sold textiles and spice in the above ports and bought gold and ivory from Africa; and spices, tin, Chinese blue pottery and silver from Southeast Asia and China.

The Arab, Persian, Chinese, Jewish and Syrian Christians were settled in the towns in the west coast. Indian spices and cloth sold in the Red Sea ports and purchased by Italian traders eventually reached European markets. These fetched very high profits. European cuisine included spices grown in tropical climates as their integral part. The cotton cloth was also very attractive. The acceptance and extensive use of spices and cotton cloth by the people of that place drew European traders to India.

Chapters

Tracing Changes Through Thousand Years - I

Tracing Changes Through Thousand Years - II

Kings and Kingdoms

Delhi 12th to 15th Century I

Delhi 12th to 15th Century II

The Mughals 16th-1 Century I

The Mughals 16th-1 Century II

Rulers and Buildings I

Rulers and Buildings II

Towns Traders and Craftsperson I

Towns Traders and Craftsperson II