Urban Crafts and Craftsmen in Medieval India

by Eugenia Vanina

This book discusses the development of non-agricultural production in pre-colonial Indian cities. The author's purpose is twofold: firstly, to analyze the technological, organizational and social evolution of urban crafts in medieval India along with the economic and socio-political atmosphere in which this sphere of production existed and, secondly, to compare the above-mentioned processes with their counterparts in other medieval societies, especially the better known European ones, and thus ascertain the level that India had achieved in this sphere by the beginning of colonial era.

Research material collected from various types of sources allows the author to critically re-asses the established notions of medieval Indian crafts as artistically exquisite but technologically backward and organizationally primitive. Comparative study of "stagnant" medieval Indian crafts vis-à-vis "progressive" European ones makes it possible to realize that in some industries or technological operations India did really lag behind, on others it was ahead, but all in all the level of technology and organization achieved by urban industries of medieval India was approximately equal to what Europe had during the craft and even early stage of manufactory period. As far as general socio-political conditions are concerned, this juxtaposition, however, is not wholly favorable for India.

No study of medieval crafts will be adequate if the researcher concentrates exclusively on technology, forms of organization and economic relations, but forgets the people who were involved in these activities. Bearing this in mind the author undertakes the reconstruction of medieval craftsmen's socio-psychological profile and tries to denote the main features of his world outlook. The book may be of interest to the scholars and students of medieval Indian history, especially its economic, social and cultural aspects, and to all those who, in their thoughts and researches, try to situate medieval India in world history.

About the Author:

Dr. Eugenia Vanina, a Ph.D. from Moscow University, is the Head, Centre for Indian Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences.