Metallurgy and mining made significant contributions to India's growth. India is acknowledged for... more Metallurgy and mining made significant contributions to India's growth. India is acknowledged for possessing an abundance of diverse natural resources.. Throughout antiquity, common metals included lead, tin, mercury, copper, iron, gold, silver, and silver.During Maurya Period (322 BCE-185 BCE):In agricultural productivity and military strength Iron was a significant metal during this period. The Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya), provides insights into the economic policies of the Mauryan Empire, including regulations regarding mining and taxation. The region of Bihar and Jharkhand, known for its rich mineral deposits, likely served as significant mining centres during this time. Mining operations were likely supervised by the state to ensure regular supply and revenue generation. The Sunga dynasty (185 BCE-73 BCE) succeeded the Maurya's after the decline of the Mauryan Empire. During this period, there was continuity in mining and metallurgical activities. Although the Sunga period is often characterized by political instability, economic activities such as mining and metallurgy continued to thrive. It has been discovered that iron artefacts from the 11th and 12th centuries BCE were made in Southern India. This paper makes an attempt to describe the importance of mining and metallurgy in the national economy as existed during the Maurya and the Sunga times.
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Papers by Keerti Sood