ECONOMY Flashcards
What was the main text on economic policies during the Gupta period?
Nitisara by Kamandaka.
What was the major source of revenue for the Gupta Empire?
Land tax, also called Bhaga, which was 1/4th to 1/6th of the produce.
What was Bhoga in Gupta taxation?
A periodic supply of fruits, firewood, and flowers that villages provided to the king.
What was Vishti in the Gupta economy?
A form of forced labor, considered a type of tax, prevalent in central and western India.
What were the two types of dykes mentioned in Narada Smriti for irrigation?
Bardhya (protected fields from floods) and Khara (used for irrigation).
What was the major lake used for irrigation during the Gupta period?
Sudarsana Lake at the foot of Girnar Hills in Gujarat.
What were Kshetra, Khila, and Aprahata in Gupta land classification?
Cultivable land, waste land, and jungle/wasteland, respectively.
What was an Agrahara grant?
A tax-free land grant given to Brahmins for religious purposes.
What were the two primary land measurement units during the Gupta period?
Kulyavapa and Dronavapa.
What was Uparikara in the Gupta taxation system?
An extra tax imposed on landowners.
What was Halivakara in Gupta taxation?
A plough tax paid by every cultivator owning a plough.
What role did guilds (Shrenis) play in the Gupta economy?
They organized trade and regulated commercial activities.
Who were Srestis and Sarthavahas in Gupta trade?
Srestis were settled traders, and Sarthavahas were caravan traders.
What was the main export from Bengal during the Gupta period?
Fine cotton cloth.
Which regions supplied spices like pepper and cardamom in the Gupta period?
Southern India.
What was a major import during the Gupta period?
Horses, gold, silver, tin, and lead.
What happened to the Roman gold trade during the Gupta period?
It declined after the Eastern Roman Empire learned silk production techniques from China.
What were the major ports on the west coast during the Gupta period?
Broach, Cambay, Calliena (Kalyan), and Chaul.
What were the major ports on the east coast during the Gupta period?
Tamralipti, Kadura, and Ghantasala.
What was Sulka in Gupta taxation?
A customs duty or toll tax on goods brought into a town or harbor.
What was Iranyavesti in the Gupta period?
A term referring to forced labor taxation.
What was Vata-Bhuta in Gupta taxation?
Cess collected for maintaining rites for winds (Vata) and spirits (Bhuta).
What type of coinage was dominant in the Gupta Empire?
Gold coins, called Dinars.
Which Gupta ruler issued the highest number of different gold coin types?
Samudragupta (8 types).
What was depicted on most Gupta coins?
Hindu deities, particularly Vishnu and Lakshmi.
What was significant about the Mehrauli Iron Pillar?
It was made of rust-resistant iron, showcasing Gupta metallurgy skills.
What was a major center for iron mining in the Gupta period?
Bihar.
What was Bhumichchidranyaya in land tenure?
The right to own land by making barren land cultivable.
What were the different categories of land tenure in the Gupta period?
Nivi dharma, Nivi dharma aksayana, Aprada dharma, Bhumichchidranyaya.
What was Bali in the Gupta taxation system?
Initially a voluntary offering to the king, later became a compulsory tax.
How did the Gupta rulers encourage agriculture?
By expanding irrigation and granting land to religious figures and officials.
What happened to the state’s economic participation during the Gupta period?
It declined due to reliance on guilds for administration.
What was Hiranya in Gupta taxation?
A tax payable in gold or king’s share of certain crops.
What was the impact of the land grant system on peasants?
Many became serfs under religious landlords.
How was trade made safe during the Gupta Empire?
Roads were well-maintained and largely free from theft.
Which Gupta inscription provides details about taxation?
Paharpur Copper Plate Inscription.
Which Chinese traveler provided insights into the Gupta economy?
Fa Hien.
What was the status of commerce in the later Gupta period?
Declined due to the fall of the Roman trade and increased feudalism.
How did the Gupta rulers maintain the value of gold coins in later years?
By reducing the gold content, leading to a decline in currency value.
How did the decline of trade impact the Gupta economy?
It led to increased reliance on land revenue and feudal structures.
