Question

Why was trade between the mountains and plains important for the Mughal economy ?

Answer 1

Concept:

• Pre-modern economies relied heavily on regional specialization and the exchange of locally unavailable resources.
• The Mughal economy was highly integrated, with trade linking the resource-rich peripheral mountains with the central agricultural plains.

Step 1: Supply of essential raw materials
The northern mountains were a crucial source of essential metals and minerals that were scarce in the plains. This included gold, copper, and lead. These materials were vital for the Mughal state, not just for manufacturing tools and ornaments, but also for minting the vast quantity of coinage required for the 'Zabt' revenue system and the monetized economy of the empire.

Step 2: Access to high-value exotic goods
Apart from metals, the mountains provided high-value goods like musk, yak tails (kutas), and medicinal herbs that fetched high prices in the urban markets of the plains. By taxing this trade through 'zakat' and other transit duties, the Mughal state increased its non-agricultural revenue. The diversity of these goods also supported specialized urban industries, such as perfume-making and luxury craftsmanship, which were hallmarks of Mughal prestige.

Answer 2

Concept:

• Trade between the plains and the hills was a symbiotic relationship where each side fulfilled the other's needs.
• For the people of the plains, the hill tribes acted as suppliers of forest-based and mountain-based resources that were essential for medicine, construction, and luxury.

Step 1: Procurement of specialized commodities
The people of the plains gained access to a vast array of specialized products that they could not produce themselves. This included medicinal roots like zedoary (resembling turmeric) and ginger, as well as specialized food products like honey and chuk (a concentrated acid of orange and lemon juice). These were used for both culinary and medicinal purposes in the households of the plains.

Step 2: Acquisition of raw materials and luxury items
Additionally, the plains received industrial raw materials like borax and wax, and wooden ware for household use. High-status individuals in the plains also benefited from the trade in falcons and hawks used for hunting, and musk and gold for luxury consumption. In exchange, the plains people exported manufactured goods like cloth and essential minerals like salt, which were in high demand in the mountains, creating a balanced and beneficial exchange.

Answer 3

Concept:

• Abu’l Fazl’s *Ain-i-Akbari* provides a detailed statistical and descriptive record of the various regions of the Mughal Empire.
• His description of the suba of Awadh includes a vivid catalog of the commodities involved in the trans-Himalayan trade.

Step 1: Listing natural and mineral resources
Abu’l Fazl notes that the hill tribes carried a heavy variety of goods on the backs of men, ponies, and goats. Among the minerals and metals, he specifically mentions gold, copper, lead, and borax. He also highlights biological products like musk and the tails of the kutas cow (the yak). This illustrates the rich mineral and animal wealth of the northern mountains.

Step 2: Categorizing agricultural and manufactured items
Furthermore, he describes a wide range of forest and agricultural produce: honey, chuk (boiled citrus juice), pomegranate seeds, ginger, long pepper, and roots like majith (used for red dye) and zedoary. He also mentions manufactured items like woollen stuffs, wooden ware, and livestock like hawks and falcons. His detailed list emphasizes the sheer diversity and the specialized nature of the mountain economy, showcasing it as a vital component of the larger Mughal commercial network.