Author: Dr. Dhirendra Nath Ghosh
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/PP/030200001
Abstract: The Gupta period is regarded as one of the most significant phases in ancient Indian history because of its socio-economic development and cultural achievements. This study examines the socioeconomic changes during the Gupta age with special focus on trade, agriculture and urban development. Agriculture formed the foundation of the Gupta economy, and expansion of cultivation, irrigation and land grants strengthened rural production and revenue collection. Trade and commerce developed through internal markets and overseas connections with Southeast Asia, China and parts of the Roman world. Merchants and guilds played an important role in economic activities, craft production and urban growth. Urban centers such as Pataliputra, Ujjain and Mathura became important centers of trade, administration and culture (Sharma, 2005). The study also examines the impact of land grants, taxation and social hierarchy on Gupta society. Historical evidence from inscriptions, coins, literary texts and archaeological findings shows that the Gupta period experienced both economic prosperity and structural changes in society. The study concludes that the socio-economic developments of the Gupta age played a major role in shaping the economic and cultural foundations of later Indian history (Thapar, 2002).
Keywords: Gupta Period, Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Urbanization, Socio-Economic Changes.
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