Consider the following statements about Indian trade and commerce in t

Consider the following statements about Indian trade and commerce in the medieval period :

India exported cotton piece goods to the wider world in the medieval period.
India received gold and silver from the wider world in lieu of her cotton goods.
India also supplied raw materials to the European industries in the medieval period.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 and 2

1 only

2 and 3

3 only

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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Statement 1 is correct. India was a major global exporter of cotton textiles, spices, indigo, and other goods throughout the medieval period, traded via overland and maritime routes. Statement 2 is correct. India generally maintained a favourable balance of trade in the medieval period, leading to an inflow of precious metals, particularly gold and silver, in exchange for its high-value exports. Statement 3 is incorrect. While India produced raw materials, its primary role in international trade during the medieval period was as a major exporter of *finished goods*, especially textiles. The pattern of being a supplier of raw materials to European industries and an importer of their manufactured goods became dominant during the *colonial* period, not the medieval period.

– Medieval India was a significant player in global trade, exporting finished products.
– The balance of trade was generally in India’s favour, leading to bullion imports.
– India became a major source of raw materials for European industries primarily during the colonial era, not the medieval period.

The shift from being an exporter of finished goods to an exporter of raw materials and an importer of finished goods is a defining characteristic of the economic impact of colonialism on India.

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