Amazingly Efficient Trade Logistics in Ancient India

By | December 28, 2016

 

There has been rich evidence that in ancient India, the trade logistics was highly efficient. Goods at that time moved mainly via multiple land routes and sea routes, some of which even exist today. Merchants in ancient India had a flourishing import export business with the merchants of other distant countries that contributed significantly in making India a Golden Bird. So, let us have a look at the trade routes to develop an understanding of the efficiency of ancient India’s trade logistics.

Land Routes:

Although, the trade was limited via land routes during the ancient times in India due to the great Himalayas in the north, and the availability of plenty of sea routes, some of the significant land routes that flourished during that time are the Silk route and the Grand Trunk route.

Among all the land routes, the Silk Route was the most significant. This Road gets its name later due to mainly trading of Silk through this road. Actually, it was not a single road, but a network of many roads that merchants used for the trade of silk, slaves, and spices. The route largely facilitated Indian merchants to exchange their goods with not only China, but also with Japan, Persia, and many other countries. The route lost its popularity with the increased incidents of robbery across the route during the end of the Kushan Empire in India and discovery of much safer new sea routes. Recently, China has started making efforts to revive the ancient silk route.

The Grand route, on the other hand, exists even today and is useful for the transportation of goods. It is known as the Grand Trunk Road or the G.T Road. The route was bulit during the Mauryan Empire. A notable administrator and Emperor, Sher Shah Suri extended the road to great length during the sixteenth century revived it. This route was from the modern day Bangladesh in the east to Afghanistan in the west. The route was a lifeline to facilitate uninterrupted trade between India and Western Asia.

Sea Routes:

Over more than 90% of the trade in ancient India conducted primarily via sea routes. India has, in fact, a large number of ports like Lothal in the present day Gujarat to much more in the Southern peninsula. There were sea routes to the Mediterranean Sea and to many Southeast Asian countries via which Indian merchants trade gold, spices, cotton, and many more goods that are valuable. India has a connection with Mesopotamia, Egypt, Africa, Arabian Peninsula and many other regions of the world via sea routes across the Indian Ocean. Trade via sea routes was at peak during the rule of Pallavas, Cholas and the Chalukyas in the Southern peninsula region of India.

Now, the merchants of India are doing trade with rest of the world via an extensive network of roads and sea routes. There is also now a facility of air transportation. Thus, there is an enormous potential of achieving success in the import export business, if the traders have a right training from the recognized export import institute. If you are ready to venture in the Global Trade, please call at +91-9377590864 and embark on a new journey of making your business a successful one on the global map.

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