International trade immensely developed during the Mughal era. The Indian traders traveled by land and touched the borders of Europe and Middle East as well as China and Far East. The British, the French, the Dutch and the Portuguese came to India from navel routes for there was great demand for Indian cotton goods from Europe. Cotton and silk was in such abundance in Bengal that it could be rightly called the common stock house for these merchandise not only for the Indo-Pak subcontinent but also the neighboring kingdoms and even of Europe. Other main industries were shawl and carpet weaving, woolen goods, pottery, leather goods and articles made of wood. It is interesting to note that Akbar himself took keen interest in the indigenous handicrafts and industry. He frequently visited the workshops near the palace and loved to watch the artisans at work.
This article was last updated on Wednesday, Jan 04, 2006
