INDIAN MERCHANTS IN CENTRAL ASIA DURING 17th AND 18th CENTURIES: COMMERCIAL PRACTICES AND ECONOMIC ROLE

Abstract

This paper presents a meticulous description of the economic scenario related to commercial practices and trade by Indian merchants during the period of seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The commerce and the trade during the period of seventeenth century were marked by the dominance of Mughal empire though the Europeans were given a position of privileged trading by the Mughals. The privileged trade position enjoyed by the Europeans created the dominance over the trade by merchants in Central Asia. The subsequent establishments and fast spread of British colonialism in India during 18th century has been deeply rooted in the privileged rights conferred by Mughals to outside traders and merchants. This paper is conceived to analyze the importance of the ‘entry of the Europeans' – and, in that effect, create the standpoint for an evaluation of the international trade pattern, commodities and relations of the Indian sub-continent – by highlighting the trade between India and Central Asia.