History of Trade, Commerce and Manufacture in Bengal

These flashcards cover the historical trade, commerce, and manufacturing landscape of Bengal, with a specific focus on the Muslin industry, trade routes, key travellers, and the economic shifts following the Battle of Palashi.

Muslin

The most famous article of trade from Bengal, specifically associated with Dhaka, likely named after Mosul in Iraq or Musulipattam in South India.

Internal Trade

Trade in agricultural products and manufactures carried out through village markets and urban centers, aided by a multitude of rivers for communication.

External Trade Exports (Early Period)

Agricultural products such as rice and grain, as well as manufactured goods like Tejpata, fragrant oil, Muslin, betel leaf, nut, coconut, salt, aloe-wood, and rhinoceros’ oil.

Medium of Exchange

Initial trade used the Barter system, followed by minted coins in the $3rd$ century BC, including gold, silver, bronze, and copper coins, as well as Cowries.

Favorable Balance of Trade

A condition Bengal enjoyed during the Muslim period where substantial quantities of treasure were imported in exchange for locally manufactured goods.

Chinese Missions ($1415$)

Evidence of early external trade where missions imported gold, silver, satins, silk, and porcelain into the region.

Caesar de Fredericki

A Venetian traveller who wrote in $1569$ that merchants from Pegu (Burma) brought only silver and gold to Bengal in exchange for merchandise.

Marco Polo

A late $13th$ century traveller who noted the commercial importance of Bengali cotton.

Ibn Batuta

A traveller who in $1345$ admired the fine Muslins of Bengal.

Ralph Fitch

A writer in the $1580s$ who noted that 'great store of cotton' and rice were exported from Bengal to places like India, Ceylon, Pegu, Malacca, and Sumatra.

Portuguese Exports

Merchandise including cotton goods, gingham made of grass, silks, sugar, ghee, rice, indigo, and long pepper.

Spice Islands

The eastern archipelago where Dutch and English companies initially focused their attention to procure spices before focusing on Bengal.

Battle of Palashi ($1757$)

A major turning point that significantly altered the trade dynamics of European companies in Bengal and led to the decline of the Muslin industry.

Dhaka Muslin

A brand of textile manufactured by local weavers using locally produced cotton in the city of Dhaka and surrounding stations.

Phuti cotton

The specific type of cotton used to make the finest sort of Muslin, grown in localities on the banks of the Brahmaputra and its branches.

Malmal

The finest sort of Muslin, sometimes referred to by foreign travellers as Malmal Shahi or Malmal Khas.

Malbus Khas

The specific type of fine Muslin procured for the use of the Mughal Emperors.

Sarkar-i-Ala

The sort of Muslin specifically procured for the use of the provincial Nababs.

Muslin Varieties

Types designated by fineness, transparency, or place of manufacture, including Malmal, Jhuna, Rang, Abirawan, Khassa, Sabnam, Alaballee, Tanzib, Nayansukh, Buddankas, Seerbund, Kumees, Doorea, Charkona, and Jamdanee.

Causes of Muslin Decline

The Industrial Revolution in England, the monopoly of trade by The East India Company, and a lack of patronage from Mughal emperors and high officials.