Post-Mauryan Period:
Que. What was the impact of trans-regional and trans-continental trade in the post Mauryan period on social and cultural life of India? [UPSC CSE-2018]
Approach:
(1) Give a brief background about development of trade in post Mauryan times.
(2) Explain the trans-regional trade and its impacts.
(3) Explain the trans-continental trade and its impacts.
(4) Conclude on balanced footing.
Introduction:
With the collapse of the Mauryan empire in 187 BC, a new phase started in Indian history. The influx of groups from West and Central Asia played an important role in this phase and led to a westward shift in the political power from Magadha region. Indo-Greeks, Shakas (Scythians), Kushanas and Western Kshatrapas left significant marks during this phase. Major development took place in trade, art and religion and there was enormous assimilation of foreign elements in Indian culture.
Trans-regional and trans-continental trade during the post-Mauryan period had a profound impact on the social and cultural life of India. This period, which spanned from roughly the 2nd century BCE to the early centuries CE, was characterized by extensive trade networks that connected India with regions as far as Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Roman Empire. Here are the key impacts on social and cultural life:
Trade was the driver of not only economy but also social and cultural interaction in the post Mauryan times. The impact of trade on these facets can be divided into two different types.
Trans-Regional Trade:
During the post Mauryan period, trans regional trade expanded considerably. The Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha routes expanded and branched out into newer and deeper branches in the subcontinent. Added to this was the increased patronage of kings as well as religious institutions towards trades and traders. The impact of Trans-regional trade on the socio-cultural life as:
(1) Development of caste Hierarchies: It resulted in the development and crystallisation of certain castes, as shown in Buddhist Jatakas as sattavaha-kula (kula prefix for caste and satavahana meaning caravan) as a result of trade.
(2) Establishment of new pilgrimage or religious centers: Emergence of certain centres of pilgrimage along trade routes. Caves of Ajanta started to be inhabited around this time and were on a major arterial route near Pratisthana and Sopara.
(3) Exchange of ideas and values: These trade routes also transmitted several socio-cultural values from one part of the region to the other. The north Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata were transported to the east and south India in the same manner as the caste system, which transformed the relatively more egalitarian societies of these regions.
Trans-Continental Trade:
This type of trade too flourished post Mauryan times with a remarkable number of ports (both sea and land) trading with a number of partners across the world. They impacted the socio-cultural life of people in a variety of ways:
(1) Intermixture of Population: The intermingling of populations and creation of newer mixed castes was a significant impact. The Yavanas mentioned by both the Manusmriti and the Sangam era texts indicate a body of foreign traders residing in India for an extended period of time.
(2) Evolution of Religious Ideologies and Art and Architecture: The Kushanas encouraged the evolution of the Gandhara and the Mathura school of art with outside influence, which was aided by robust trading relations between the western and Indian regions. The pantheon of the Greek gods and Persian deities too reached India during this time. Spread of Buddhism to central and South-east Asia began during this time.
(3) Developments in Science and Technologies: Techniques of Metal casting and pottery were shared as a result of robust Indo-Roman trade.
Conclusion:
The post Mauryan period was a period of great socio-cultural development and it was aided abundantly by both internal as well as external trade. This is precisely why art historian Niranjan Ray has asked for the impact of trade on history to be looked at as a holistic whole instead of it being divided spatially or on the basis of kingdoms and dynasties.
The period from 200 B.C. to A.D. 300 was perhaps the most prosperous in terms of the expansion of trade networks and increase in the number of urban centres. Buddhism encouraged the accumulation and investment of wealth in trading ventures and at the same time the Sangha benefited from donations of land and money made by the devotees. Trade contacts with Central Asia and China opened up routes for the spread of Buddhism and several Buddhist monasteries were carved in rock along the routes.
