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During the mediaeval period, small villages flourished as new towns, and many temples emerged as pilgrimage centres. Further, these towns in the mediaeval period emerged as new centres for commercial purposes to traders and craftspersons. The temple towns and administrative centres became hubs for trader and craft activities. New traders were glorified at that time. This article will discuss the traders and craftspersons who were prominent and well-known for their activities during the mediaeval period.

Traders in Towns

India had flourishing trade during the mediaeval period. There were many known traders, such as the Banjaras. Trade was done in an organised manner. Many traders, including horse traders, used to form an association with a headman, who further negotiated with the warriors on their behalf.

  • Trade was done by both local and foreign merchants
  • Traders travelled through many kingdoms and forests for trading. They travelled in caravans to move goods from one region to another
  • To promote their common interests, they formed guilds or associations
  • Guilds formation was common seventeenth century onwards
  • Manigramam and Nanadesi were some powerful guilds. These guilds traded mainly in Southeast Asia, China and the peninsula
  • The Banjaras traders traded in bulk goods like grains, salt, pulses and other agricultural or postural products

Traders in Different Towns

Different regions were dominated by different groups of traders. The Chettiars and Marwari Oswal were the main trading communities of the country. The magnitude of trade deduced that there were around 300 ports for trade.

  • Gujarati traders, Hindu Baniyas, Chettis and Muslim Bohras traded with coastal ports and North India. They dominated the trades with the ports of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa, Southeast Asia and China. They sold textiles and spices and bought gold, ivory, spices, Chinese blue pottery and silver from the other sides
  • Gujarati traders sold textiles and spices. Because of this, it was a leading centre of trade
  • Arab, Persian, Chinese, Jewish and Syrian Christian traders dominated the west coast 
  • Multanis of Punjab and Khurasanis handled overland trade of West Asia
  • Most of these traders used to settle down in Delhi 
  • At the same time, Kabul (part of Afghanistan today) became politically and commercially important for traders. Trades in horses were carried out, and slaves were bought for sale to Kabul
  • A diamond Merchant, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, estimated Rs. 30000 annual trades of horses in Kabul. Kabul and Kandahar were linked to the silk route. This route also witnessed the trade of fruits, dates, carpets, silks and even fresh fruits from Kabul to the subcontinent through camels
  • Italian traders purchased Indian clothes and spices in Red Sea ports and sold them at huge profits in the European market
  • Indian spices and cotton clothes were so popular in European markets that they drew numerous European traders to India. It changed the scenario of Indian towns and traders

Crafts in Towns

During the mediaeval period, craftsperson and handicrafts flourished. They reached the pinnacle of perfection. Bideri inlay work was appraised. 

  • The craftsperson of Bidar(near Hyderabad) was famed for Bidri inlay work on copper and silver. Mughals introduced this inlay work
  • Bidri inlay work was smooth and dark metalwork with different designs on surfaces
  • Bidri inlay work still serves as the pride of the Telangana region
  • The Panchalas or Vishwakarma community consisted of goldsmiths, bronze smiths, blacksmiths, masons and carpenters. They were known for the construction of temples, palaces, buildings, tanks and reservoirs
  • Saliyar or Kaikkolars were prosperous weavers
  • Silk production of Ahmedabad got reputed
  • Craftspersons of the Cholas and Vijayanagara empires were popular for jewellery making, silk weaving and bronze sculpture making
  • Cotton cleaning, spinning and dyeing became new crafts
  • The Turks (who lived in North India) introduced paper manufacturing to the country

The Decline of Traders and Crafts after Europeans influence

Indian goods were popular in western countries during the sixteenth century. This attracted numerous traders to India from foreign countries, majorly from European countries. 

  • The East India Company formed by the English, Dutch, and French, expanded their trade in India in the seventeenth century. They had good Naval supremacy
  • Initially, Mulla Abdul Ghafur and Virji Vora owned many ships. They also dominated the sea coasts of India, but the Naval supremacy of European countries forced Indian traders to work for them as their agents because Indian traders had no match with European traders
  • The naval supremacy of European countries established a foothold on the east coast of India. From being a trading company, it became a political power in India
  • The emergence of European traders developed the Indian textile industry and refined designs
  • The independence of craftspeople was lost; they started taking advance orders and delivering their designs to agents of the East India Company
  • They no longer had the freedom to make their designs or sell by themselves in the market
  • Later, the East India Company developed its new centres at Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. The emergence of these new towns resulted in the shifting of artisans, merchants and local agents to these cities for work
  • The cities were divided into Black towns and White towns by Europeans
  • Black town was resided by merchants, traders, craftspersons and artisans. The residents were called “Blacks”
  • The superiors called “Whites” resided in Fort St. George in Madras or Fort St. William in Calcutta
  • Local traders’ conditions worsened during the eighteenth century due to the dominance of the East India companies. Weavers faced competition from cheap mill-made cloth brought from England to India