Economic and technological development during the Mughal period of 18th century.
Eighteenth century India witnessed the decline economy and trade. The declining Mughal rule faileu to control the declining economy because of the penetration of foreign rule. However before the downfall of Mughal rule India had made remarkable progress in the field of agriculture, trade, industry, commerce and urban centres. A brief description of the progress in the field of economy will help us in analysing the clear picture of economy.
Agriculture : During the 18th century India was technically backward from the view point of agriculture. The Mughal emperors lost their power and glory and their empire shrank to a few square miles around Delhi. The Mughal royal officials failed to promote the economy of Mughal empire. The peasants were bound to work hard and produced adequate crops but at the end of the season, suffered miserably. In addition to it, the state, the Zamindars, the Jagirdars and the revenue officer tried to extract the maximum amount from the peasants and farmers. The burden of land revenue went on increasing day by day and the peasants and farmers failed to meet their necessary wants due to lack of money. Moreover, constant transfers of nobles from their jagirs also led to great evil. They tried to extract as much money from a jagir as possible in short period of their tenure as jagirdars. As a result of this, it led to the creation of a new class of revenue farmers and Talukdars whose extortion from the peasantry often knew no bounds. All these factors led to stagnation and deterioration in agriculture and impoverishment of the peasants.
Trade : During the Mughal period there was remarkable development of trade. India was on the whole self-sufficient in handicrafts and agricultural products, it did not import foreign goods on a large scale. On the otherside the industrial and agricultural products in India was quite steady and it had made a good place in the foreign market. As a result of this, India exported more than it imported. Thus the Indian traders and merchants were able to maintain the balance of trade in its favour. Indian merchants and traders maintained the balance of trade by importing gold and silver. India's most important article of export was cotton textiles, raw silk, silk fabrics, hardware, indigo, opium, rice, wheat, sugar, pepper, spices and precious stones and ruby. India imported pearls, raw silk, wool, dates, dried fruits, coffee, gold, drugs, honey, tea, sugar, procelain, spices, ivory, metals, lead and paper.
But unfortunately, the political development affected the development of trade and commerce. Constant warfare and disruption of law and order in many areas during the 18th century harmed the country's internal trade and disrupted its foreign trade. In addition to it, the trade rivals and contestants for power plundered the important trade centres like Delhi Agra, Varanasi and other important trade centres. Besides, the new ruling classes added the problems of traders and businessman who were bound to pay different kinds of taxes which caused the decline of trade and commerce.
Industry : During the 18th century India made remarkable improvement in the field of various kinds of industries. The most prominent industries textile, metal work, stone work, leather and were paper industry. It must be kept in mind that textile industry was the most prominent industry of Mughal India. The important products were cotton woolen and silk clothes which were exported Burma, Malaya, Java and south-east Asian countries. India was self sufficient in raw materials for manufacturing various kinds of clothes and articles. The development of textile industry also helped the growth of other allied industries like embroidery thread work and dying The important centre of trade and commerce were Bengal, Punjab, Varanasi, Dacca, Ayodhya, Khandesh, Amritsar and Kashmir etc. Secondly, the Mughals made remarkable progress in the field of metal industry which produced varieties of articles. The metals workers handled the various metals like iron, brass, silver, zinc etc. People also achieved great skill in the manufacture of inlaid ornaments, embroidered and damascened work. A part from it, the people also displayed great skill in making various kinds of arms and weapons. Punjab and Gujarat were important centre of armour industries. In addition to it there was remarkable progress in the field of stone industry, shipping industry, leather industry, paper industry, ivory industry, coral industry, crafts industry etc.
Urban Industries : During the 18th century the Mughal rulers achieved remarkable progress in the field of urban industries. India was very popular the handicrafts. The Indian artisans and handicrafts enjoyed great reputation in the field of manufacturing several products. India was a large scale manufacturer of cotton and silk clothes. Besides, Indian urban industries had achieved great skill in production of sugar, jute dye-staffs, mineral and metallic articles and goods. The important centre of textile industry were Dacca, Murshidabad, Patna, Surat, Broach, Chanderi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra, Multan, Lahore, Visakhapatnam, Kashmir, Madurai etc. Ship building industry flourished in Maharashtra, Andhra and Bengal.
But the political factors disrupted the progress of Indian trade and industries. The political interference adversely affected urban industries. A large number of industrial cities like Delhi, Lahore, Mathura, Agra, Surat, Deccan etc. were plundered and looted by the foreign invaders. Thus these factors brought the downfall of Indian industries but only a few trading center gained expansion in trade with the advent of European.
