The Indo-Roman Pepper Trade and the Muziris Papyrus

The Indo-Roman Pepper Trade and the Muziris Papyrus

Author: Federico De Romanis

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2020-04-15

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 0192579746

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This volume presents a systematic and fresh interpretation of a mid-second-century AD papyrus - the so-called Muziris papyrus - which preserves on its two sides fragments of a unique pair of documents: on one side, a loan agreement to finance a commercial enterprise to South India and, on the other, an assessment of the fiscal value of a South Indian cargo imported on a ship named the Hermapollon. The two texts, whose informative potential has long been underexploited, clarify several aspects of the early Roman Empire's trade with South India, including transport logistics, financial and legal elements in the loan agreement funding the commercial enterprise, the trade goods included in the South Indian cargo, and the technicalities of calculating and collecting Roman customs duties on the Indian imports. This study also considers imperial fiscal policy as it related to the South Indian trade, the overall evolution of Rome's trade relations with South India, the structure and organization of South Indian trade stakeholders, and the role played by private tax-collectors. The in-depth analysis sheds new light on this important sector of the Roman economy during the first two centuries AD in two innovative ways: through a balanced consideration of South Indian sources and data, and by drawing comparisons with the pepper trade from late antiquity, the Middle Ages, and early modernity, resulting in a longue durée perspective on the western trade in South Indian pepper.


The Silver Coinage of the Western Satraps in India (50-400 Ad)

The Silver Coinage of the Western Satraps in India (50-400 Ad)

Author: A.M. Fishman

Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub

Published: 2013-05-10

Total Pages: 392

ISBN-13: 9781463656157

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This 392 page book is the most comprehensive study of the rich silver coinage of the Western Satraps ever written. The Western Satraps (also known as Indo-Sakas or Indo-Scythians) of Gujarat and the surrounding areas in Western India issued a plethora of beautiful rich coinage which until now has not been well understood outside of a small circle of specialists. This is the perfect guide for the new or experienced collector. The coins of the Western Satraps (also known as the "Western Kshatrapas") were issued for over three centuries (from the 1st century AD to the early 5th century AD) and covered thirty eight rulers from two distinct dynasties (Kshaharatas and Kardamakas). The book features: Hundreds of high quality photographs showing every type and most varieties Detailed historical notes on the Western Satraps and related histories Detailed explanation on how to read the Saka Era dates on these coins, with every year spelled out and explained Detailed explanations and help with the Brahmi and Kharoshti spelling, with every inscription written out and explained Numerous coin types and varieties never published before Line drawings for each type with full transliterations of the Brahmi inscriptions Notes on the rarity and importance of each type Price guide, with current Western market values given for most of the coins Short survey of the successor coinage - later silver coins based on the Kshatrapa design A survey of existing literature About the author Dr. Fishman is a professional numismatist and world-renowned expert on ancient Indian coins.


The Economic History of India

The Economic History of India

Author:

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2023-07-30

Total Pages: 461

ISBN-13: 9356401888

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The economic history of early India is a rich and diverse area of study, covering agricultural developments, trade, markets, occupation and professional groups, urbanization and the institutions that govern the economy. Recent research has expanded our understanding of the processes of transformation of the economy in different temporal contexts within the Indian sub-continent. They have particularly led us to explore connected histories given the trans-continental trading networks and movements of people from very early times. This volume seeks to draw attention to this vast and unexplored terrain in the economic history of early India, by bringing together essays on a new and rich historiography. Essays in the volume cover neglected regions, economic processes and structures. Scholars have looked at questions of settlements, crops that were cultivated and market orientation. Essays cover material culture and provide insights into how early Indians lived, what kinds of activities they were engaged in, and how they organised their production activities within and outside domestic spaces. Further the volume bring new insights on hierarchy of settlement types, nature of exchange, and the significance of a nodal site in exchange networks. Maritime history as well as the understanding of trade in its varied forms and manifestations are covered in several essays.


The Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek World

The Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek World

Author: Rachel Mairs

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-11-29

Total Pages: 653

ISBN-13: 1351610279

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This volume provides a thorough conspectus of the field of Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek studies, mixing theoretical and historical surveys with critical and thought-provoking case studies in archaeology, history, literature and art. The chapters from this international group of experts showcase innovative methodologies, such as archaeological GIS, as well as providing accessible explanations of specialist techniques such as die studies of coins, and important theoretical perspectives, including postcolonial approaches to the Greeks in India. Chapters cover the region’s archaeology, written and numismatic sources, and a history of scholarship of the subject, as well as culture, identity and interactions with neighbouring empires, including India and China. The Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek World is the go-to reference work on the field, and fulfils a serious need for an accessible, but also thorough and critically-informed, volume on the Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms. It provides an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the Hellenistic East. The Introduction and Chapter 17 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license


The Silver Damma

The Silver Damma

Author: Aleksandr Markovich Fishman

Publisher: Iirns Publications Pvt. Limited

Published: 2018-11-25

Total Pages: 424

ISBN-13: 9788193829103

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The result of over a decade of study, this work presents in 423 pages a vast range of new material on a super-series of coins which uniquely bridges Hindu and Islamic India from the 7th century CE onwards; its interpretations open a whole new horizon in the numismatic history of early medieval India. The book comprehensively examines the nature and historical context of the earliest native tiny silver dammas as well as all their various Islamic and Hindu descendants, traversing the early coinages of Sindh, Punjab and ancient Gandhara, as well as the later Sindhi, Multani and Ghaznavid types, and subsequent coins from north-western and central India, covering the period from about 600 to 1100 CE. A survey of later coins from western, central and south India is included in the Addendum to the main work for the sake of completeness and to demonstrate the pervasiveness of the tiny silver damma over time and throughout India. Comprehensive descriptions, translations and historical notes are provided for every one of the hundreds of coin types, together with illustrations of one or more specimens of each, including line drawings where appropriate. Selected reviews: "This book opens up a whole new horizon in early medieval monetary history... a key resource, of interest to a wide range of numismatic, historical and economic researchers and writers... It offers a wealth of new information, a most impressive corpus that will serve to guide and inform us for many years." - John S. Deyell, author of "Living Without Silver" "Fishman and Todd lead us along the difficult trail of the silver damma of western India, an important coinage series that brought together the worlds of India and the Middle East in the medieval period. In thirteen dense chapters, they offer a significant description and understanding of the complex numismatics, especially the three dot coinage of Multan, but their study also raises important issues concerning the socioeconomic foundations of this critical period when major portions of India participated as equal partners in the maritime and overland commerce of the Caliphates. The book is highly recommended for professional numismatists, collectors, and scholars of the medieval period." - Derryl N. MacLean, author of "Religion and Society in Arab Sind," Simon Fraser University "Fishman and Todd have produced an analysis and catalog of silver dammas that would have been unthinkable just a decade or two ago. These once obscure and poorly understood gems have a wealth of meaningful history attached, sure to entice the interest of coin collectors and historians." - Stephen Album, author of "Checklist of Islamic Coins"


The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean

The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean

Author: Raoul McLaughlin

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2014-09-11

Total Pages: 513

ISBN-13: 1473840953

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This study of ancient Roman shipping and trade across continents reveals the Roman Empire’s far-reaching impact in the ancient world. In ancient times, large fleets of Roman merchant ships set sail from Egypt on voyages across the Indian Ocean. They sailed from Roman ports on the Red Sea to distant kingdoms on the east coast of Africa and southern Arabia. Many continued their voyages across the ocean to trade with the rich kingdoms of ancient India. Along these routes, the Roman Empire traded bullion for valuable goods, including exotic African products, Arabian incense, and eastern spices. This book examines Roman commerce with Indian kingdoms from the Indus region to the Tamil lands. It investigates contacts between the Roman Empire and powerful African kingdoms, including the Nilotic regime that ruled Meroe and the rising Axumite Realm. Further chapters explore Roman dealings with the Arab kingdoms of southern Arabia, including the Saba-Himyarites and the Hadramaut Regime, which sent caravans along the incense trail to the ancient rock-carved city of Petra. The first book to bring these subjects together in a single comprehensive study, The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean reveals Rome’s impact on the ancient world and explains how international trade funded the legions that maintained imperial rule.


Indian Numismatics

Indian Numismatics

Author: Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi

Publisher: Orient Blackswan

Published: 1981

Total Pages: 182

ISBN-13: 9780861310180

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This Volume Brings Together Twelve Of Kosambi`S Major Essays On The Statistical And Analysical Study Of Coins From Ancient India.