TRADE AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN INDIA

INTERNAL TRADE

• Southern India and Ceylon benefitted from this trade
• India was self-sufficient in stape foods such as rice, wheat, bareley, and millet
• Most regions in India lacked iron, copper, salt, pepper, spices, condiments, and specialized crops
• Only certain regions held these resources
• These resources had to be transported along long distances within India

Internal Trade Cont.

• The Chola kingdom provided stability in the south.
• This expansion opened markets for Indian merchants and producers
• Many temples were built
• Temples provided agricultural land, education, etc.

Agriculture in the Monsoon

MONSOONS

• Spring and summer southwest winds = most of India's rainfall.
• During the months of autumn and winter=no rain; Indians need irrigation
• Light rain in summer and spring months = drought, less harvests, famine

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS in Northern India

• Harappan times was when irrigation first started in India, using Indus River.
• Later, Aryans migrated into Ganges River, which has more water and opportunities for irrigation systems.

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN Southern India

• As it became more densely populated, irrigations became more crucial, leading to dams, reservoirs, wells, tunnels, etc.( impressive and monumental at the time )
• Helped keep a healthy supply of water during dry months,
• increasing agricultural productivity.

Population Growth

• Grew steadily through Post-Classical Era
• 600 C.E.=53 mil; 1000C.E. = 79 mil
• By 1500, population reached 500 million.

Urbanization

• 14th century- capital city had 400,000 (2nd highest in Muslim cities)
• Cities in southern India grew increasingly fast due to agricultural productivity.
• Ports and trading centers (Cambay, Surat) had population 1,000+

Cross cultural trade in the Indian Ocean basin

INDIAN OCEAN BASIN

CROSS CULTURAL TRADE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN BASIN

• Indian ships are called dhows and are the first ships to allow them to leave the coast
• They would use the monsoon rains to sail across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
• Impossible to make that trip without monsoon rains
• Ships spending time in ports would trade cargo while waiting for next monsoon
• Ports became large cosmopolitan centers

CROSS CULTURAL TRADE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN BASIN Cont.

• All merchants who spend time in Indian ports trade with each other
• Some items traded are solk and porcelain from china, spices from se Asia, Gold, ivory, and slaves from east Africa