Foreign Trade Under Mughals

The first chapter ‘The Milieu’ deals with the historical background of the Pre-Mughal Trade. In the development of long-distance trade Indian subcontinent has played a major role from ancient times. The second chapter ‘ways and means of Foreign Trade’ throws light on the various geographical regions of North-West India, Persia and Iraq; and the movement of the caravans. The caravan was both the oldest and the most popular method of traveling in large groups. The third chapter is devoted to the study of ‘Production and Distribution.’ At the Primitive stage bartering of things and commodities could only be the medium of exchange. With the movement of people and goods, the system of transportation was evolved. The fourth chapter discusses ‘Corporation and Guild System’. Peter Mundy and Tavernier wrote that the mobile traders known as the Banjaras were divided into tribes dealing respectively with corn, rice, pulses and salt. The fifth chapter ‘Mughal Imperors; Policies concerning the Foreign Trade’ is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the main features of foreign trade under the Mughals, the second part with state policy towards foreign trade. The last chapter ‘Conclusion Presents a Comprehensive Idea’ about the retrospective and Prospective development of trade under the Mughals.