Chapter 2 Towns and Trade| Class 12 History Notes

Class 12 History Notes Chapter 2 Towns and Trade: In Chapter 2 of Class 12 History Notes, we learn about ancient Indian towns and trading in a way that’s easy to understand. It tells us that from about 600 BCE, India had roads and sea routes for trading with faraway places. People traded things like salt, cloth, spices, and even gold and silver. They started using coins too. These coins were made of silver or copper and had pictures or symbols on them. We know all this from old things found underground and from ancient writings. By understanding and going through these notes, students will develop a strong understanding of the important topics.

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Chapter 2 Towns and Trade| Class 12 History Notes

New cities

Numerous urban centers began appearing across various regions of the subcontinent around the sixth century BCE. A considerable number of these are the capitals of mahajanapadas, ancient kingdoms of that time.

The major towns were strategically situated along trade and communication routes. Some were positioned along riverine routes, while others were nestled along land routes. A few were located near the coast, marking the starting points of sea routes.

Cities like Mathura thrived as bustling hubs of cultural, commercial, and political activities.

Urban populations Elites and craftspersons

We’ve observed that kings and ruling elites resided in fortified cities. While extensive excavations are challenging due to current habitation (unlike the Harappan cities), numerous artifacts have been unearthed. These artifacts include fine pottery bowls and dishes, notably the glossy Northern Black Polished Ware, likely used by the affluent. Ornaments, tools, weapons, vessels, and figurines made from various materials like gold, silver, copper, bronze, ivory, glass, shell, and terracotta have been discovered.

By the second century BCE, short votive inscriptions began appearing in several cities. These inscriptions mention the name and sometimes the occupation of the donor. They shed light on the diverse urban populace, including washerfolk, weavers, scribes, carpenters, potters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, officials, religious teachers, merchants, and kings. Guilds or shrenis, organizations of craft producers and merchants, are also occasionally mentioned. These guilds likely managed raw materials, oversaw production, and marketed the finished goods. Craftspersons probably utilized a variety of iron tools to meet the increasing demands of urban elites.

Trade in the subcontinent and beyond

From around the sixth century BCE, there were many routes across India. Some went over land, stretching into Central Asia and beyond. Others went overseas, starting from ports along the coast. They went across the Arabian Sea to East and North Africa, West Asia, and through the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia and China. Rulers often tried to control these routes, maybe by offering protection for a fee.

People who traveled these routes included peddlers, who likely walked, and merchants, who traveled in groups with carts and pack animals. There were also sailors, whose voyages were risky but could make a lot of money. Successful merchants, known as masattuvan in Tamil and setthis and satthavahas in Prakrit, could become very rich. They carried all sorts of things like salt, grain, cloth, metal, and finished products, as well as spices like pepper, which were highly wanted in the Roman Empire.

Coins and Kings

Coins helped with trade too. Some of the earliest coins, made of silver and copper, were made around the sixth century BCE. These coins have been found at many places across India, and experts have studied them to understand how trade worked. Some coins had symbols that might show which kings issued them. Merchants, bankers, and people in towns might have also made coins. The first coins with names and pictures of rulers were made by the Indo-Greeks around the second century BCE.

Gold coins started being made around the first century CE by the Kushanas. These were found in North India and Central Asia and were similar in weight to coins made by Roman emperors and rulers in Iran. This shows that big transactions were happening. Even though South India wasn’t part of the Roman Empire, they found Roman coins there, showing how trade connected distant places.

Tribal republics like the Yaudheyas in Punjab and Haryana also made their own coins, mostly from copper. These coins show that the Yaudheyas were involved in trade too.

The Gupta rulers made some amazing gold coins. The earliest ones were very pure. These coins helped with long-distance trade and made the kings rich.

By around the sixth century CE, fewer gold coins were found. Some historians think this might mean there was an economic crisis. They say that when the Western Roman Empire fell, trade slowed down, which affected places that relied on it. Others say that new towns and trade networks were starting to appear. Even though we find fewer coins from this time, they are still mentioned in writings. Maybe there are fewer coins found because people were using them instead of keeping them.

FAQs on Class 12 History Notes Chapter 2 Towns and Trade

What were the major trade routes in ancient India?

In ancient India, trade routes crisscrossed the subcontinent, extending overland into Central Asia and overseas to regions like East and North Africa, West Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. These routes facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas across vast distances.

Who controlled the trade routes in ancient India?

Rulers often attempted to control the trade routes by offering protection to merchants in exchange for a fee. They recognized the economic significance of these routes and sought to capitalize on the wealth generated through trade.

What were the main modes of transportation used for trade?

Trade in ancient India involved various modes of transportation. Peddlers traveled on foot, while merchants moved goods with caravans of bullock carts and pack animals. Seafarers undertook risky but profitable voyages across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

What were some of the goods traded in ancient India?

A wide range of goods were traded in ancient India, including salt, grain, cloth, metal ores, finished products, spices (especially pepper), textiles, medicinal plants, and precious metals like gold and silver. These goods were in high demand both within the subcontinent and in distant markets like the Roman Empire.

How did the introduction of coinage impact trade?

The introduction of coinage facilitated trade by providing a standardized medium of exchange. Punch-marked coins made of silver and copper were among the earliest coins used in India. These coins were minted by rulers, merchants, bankers, and townspeople and helped in commercial transactions.

Which dynasties issued the earliest coins in ancient India?

The earliest coins in ancient India were punch-marked coins made of silver and copper, minted from around the sixth century BCE onwards. These coins were issued by various ruling dynasties, possibly including the Mauryas. Later, coins with the names and images of rulers were issued by the Indo-Greeks and the Kushanas.