- Introduction
- Agro-Industries
- Textiles
- Silk
- Indigo
- Sugarcane
- Oil Production
- Metals
- Gold and Silver
- Diamond and Precious Stones
- Copper
- Iron
- Minerals
- Salt
- Saltpetre
- Organisation of Craft Production
- Artisanal Production
- Dadani
- Karkhanas
- Wages
- Specialisation of Crafts
- Technology and Tools
- Craft Mobility
- Medieval Women and Craft Production
- Monopolies
- Debates
- Industry, Trade and Commerce in Medieval India
Introduction
Francois Bernier (1656-68) commented on the state of medieval crafts, mentioning that the lack of fine works was not due to any inability of the people to cultivate the arts.
There were ingenious men in every part of the Indies, capable of creating handsome pieces of workmanship even without proper tools or formal instruction.
Some craftsmen could imitate European manufactured articles so perfectly that the difference between the original and the copy was hard to discern.
Bernier points out that the lack of superior art in the capital was not due to the lack of genius but because artists and manufacturers were not encouraged.
These craftsmen were treated harshly, inadequately remunerated, and contemned for their labor.
The rich demanded articles at a cheap rate, which contributed to the poor remuneration for artisans.
Two main contrasts emerge from Bernier's statement: a) There was no dearth of craftsmen, and their craftsmanship could rival that of Europe, and b) The tools they had were simple, and they were miserably remunerated.
A major issue concerns the nature and pattern of non-agricultural production, questioning whether it was static or dynamic, and whether it could lead to a capitalistic or semi-capitalistic production system.
The available data to explore these issues is negligible and indirect, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions.
It is also unclear whether medieval artisans should be categorized as urban, rural, or rurban.
Many artisans involved in production did not necessarily reside in urban centers.
The discussion focuses on finished goods/crafts, their production process, and the persons involved in the production and organization, rather than on social status of the craftsmen.
The course will address the social status of craftsmen in MHI-06.
The products discussed include those unrelated to agriculture, as well as products derived from agriculture but treated before being sold in the market.
The emphasis is on both the products and their creators – the artisans.