DOCSLIB.ORG

Economy of Golconda in the Seventeenth Century

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Economy of Golconda in the Seventeenth Century ECONOMY OF GOLCONDA IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY DISSERTATION SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN HISTORY BY Anwar-ul-Haque 80HS M.Phil.-05 Under the supervision of Dr. S. M. Raza Naqvi READER CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH 1983 bs^j^^ :CC\^»^ *j*q.'^ DS625 C8RTIPIC»3Pg Thia la to C«ftify that Kc^ Annfarul Iteque has ecnpletcd hia diMert«feS«i •ati&ad * «Hi BCONOMY CF Gousomik IN THS s^mrtmrnn CENTOmr'^aer the award of H.Phil, dogroe • Tha work is bnsad on contaragporary aoorees and has been ccinpytad umler my superviaion • ^t may be forwarded to the Idamiiuut for afvaluation • Dated 7/7/1983 ( S. KCmt^S^lRDl tlKZJi NAOVXl CONTENTS £S9AJS2< ACXNOffLSDOOlENT Introduction 1-v Akdbreviation vl Chapter Zt Agrlcultoral Products And Land ReTenue Adnlnistration ••. 1*24 Chapter IX i Mia^arals 2S->44 Chapter IlltCraits And Industries 47*79 Chapter IVt Trade And Commerce 80'->127 J^pendlxi A Note On Pagodas 129-139 Bibliography 131-135 Mapst 1. Outbshahl Dcmlnlons about 1670# Indicating roads and highways between pp.l&2 2, Bay of Bengal and the surrounding kingdoms between pages 97&98 ' ******* ***** *** * ACmONZiEOOBtBiT It is my ao«t pX««««it duty to mspxmmm my d«ip •«ks« of gr«titudo to my oatocmod Supondsor* Or S«M« R«S« Maqid.* His eonstwt guidsneo «nd austainsd intorost ha^vo mado it possiblo to prossnt this work« His sffoetion and 9uid«AC« wsro always availabla to ma and no laaount of tima and attantion waa avar too moeh for him* Z «B grataful to Profaasor K.A, Hiaami* tha Chairman* Cantra of Advanoad study* Oapartmant of Hiatory* for hia aneouraoaaanta to puraua raaaaroh at thia eantra* X aa alao grataful to Profaaaor Zrfan Habib aa hia monumantal raaaaroh ifork *An Atlas of tha ttaghal fi^pira* haa halpad ma in many a ways to aolva nuaaroua problama of raaaaroh* Z am Tary much thankful to Doctors Z^al tfuaain* Z*A* zilli and Afaal Husain for thair eonatant aneouragaRMMata and aolving aoma of tha intriguing preblama of raaaareh* My thanks ara alao dua to tha ataff of tha Raaaar<^ ULbrary* Dapartmant of Hiatory* and Maolana Asad Library* AMU** for making all tha raaaareh matarial availabla to ma* Z am alao thankful to my friands* Q*s* Usmani* Abdur Aidiman* Arshad Zalam* Zafrul Zalam and Zahaar Jafri for thair oooparations in eomplating this work* Z am axtramaly thankful to tha u*G*C« for providing ma Taashar-Falloirahip for this raaaaroh work* Z am also grataful to Mr M*A, Afridi for his kind consant to gat thia dissartation typad on a vary short notioa* ••ccontd**• Last but not thtt l«ast# Z ara thankful to mf wife who has willingly tak«a ovar to harsalf all tha raaponsibilities of tha household to panait ma to da^ota and eonc«itrata all my tima and anargy to tha eomplation of this rasaarch work with tha laast possible distrac­ tion. ^ ^' - I ^J^u^ Mwarul Haqo^ w (1) IMTOOOOCnOW Golconda has b««n attracting tha attantlon of many scholars in tha raeant past. Thraa notabla %iorks on tha history o£ Golconda hara so far qppaarad. Of thasa two in English wtittan by Profassors H.K. Sharwani and J.F. Richards ara vary wall known. ^ And tha othar work writtan by Profassor Abdul Majaad Siddiqoi in Urdu is also of considarabla importanca. So far as Profassor Sharwani*s work is concamad* it daals with mainly tha political history of Golconda and thus has providad a datailad history of tha kingdom which foundad in tha first quartar of l6th cantury aftar tha disintagration of Batmanl kingdom. Profassor Richard's work is indaad a walcoma adition to tha madiaval Indian history but it daals with tha Mughal Golconda. Thus a vary important aspact of tha pra-Mughal Golconda remains untouched* i.a. the economy of the kingdom of Golconda. Profassor Abdul Majaad*s work is precisely a political analy­ sis of the evw&ts on the traditional lines without maswaring some of the pertinent questions about the kingdom of Golconda. For axmaple %^at ware the reasons of prosperity* flourishing 1, H.K, Sherwanit History Of The Qutbshahi Dynasty. New Delhi* 1974. J.F, Richards I Muohal Adaninistration In Golconda. Oxford, 1975, 2, Abdul Majeed Siddiquit Tarikh-E-Golcoada. Hyderabad, 1964. ...ii (ii> trade« comm«rG« and agricultura of the kingdom of Golconda. Nona of the abova wrltara has attempted to answer these questions* In this dissertation an attempt has been made to probe into some of the economic activities of the people of Golconda %^ich are considered as main reasons for the prosperity of the kingdom•' The kingdom of Golconda was founded by Quli Qutb Shah« the 'tarafdar' of Tilangana under Shihabuddin Mahmud Bahman Shah in the year 1512 A.D, Quli Qutb's successors expanded and ••••• consolidated the kingdom considerably, 3y 1646 A.D. the %^ole o£ Eastern Kamataka was included into its territory. Its coastal belt stretched from Sikakul to St. Thome. During the 17th century the danger of Mughal invasion loomed large and ultimately the fateful year came vihen in 1687# Golconda could not resist the Mughal thrust. It was annexed to the Mughal Qnpire the sane year. The Qutbshahi Sultans were highly prosperous and were considered as the richest princes in India, second only to the Mughal Bnnperor. In fact« the reasons for their prosperity and fabulous wealth were the numerous economic activities i^ich they generously promoted in their kingdom. 1. The boundary and geographical conditions of Golconda is discussed in the 1st Chapter. 2. There is a controversy over his coronation/ for details see# Sherwani# History Of Qutbshahi Dynasty# pp. 13-16. ...iii (lii) From the very beginning^ the Xingdotn was highly productive of agricultural goods. It was an agricultural soils country with fertile^rrigated by various tanks and rivers. Its coastal regions as well as the deltaic area of Godavarl river were highly fertile and provided triple cropping of paddy rice« sufficient to support a d«ise population. It produced various Idnds of grains and fruits such as wheats* rice# millet« different varieties of pulses« mangoes* bananas* oranges grapes* etc. Though the klngdc»n was governed by the rapacious fanning system* it did not have ruinous effects or agricultural production. Thus the kingdon produced enough grains to sustain its population and to export elsewhere. The kingdom was rich in mineral resources as well. Its diamond industry was feunous the world over. It gave employ­ ment to lacs of people and brought considerable sums to the state treasury. It attracted large number of merchants and traders* native as well as foreign to come to the mining sites and to the big cities to deal in the diamond trade. The country also produced iron in abundance. After meeting the home requirement* it was exported to many countries and thus it was a source of incone to the kingdom. The crafts and Industries also were in a highly flourishing state specially Golconda's textile industry had a great name world over. The spice trade of South-East Asia solely depoided upon the barter of the Golconda's textiles. ..iv <iv) The fine varieties of cloths such as 'kalamando* chintz and fine ^ite muslin were in great d«nand in the Mughal Empire, Persia and Arab. The Dutch and English trading Companies carried Golconda's 'piece goods' to European countries where they were preferred over those produced at Surat and else­ where. The textile industry also provided jobs to lacs of people and brought large revenues to the state coffers. Other big industry was the ship-building industry. Narsapur ship-yard at the mouth of Godavari river was an ideal place for ship-building. Native merchants as well as foreign, Portuguese, Dutch and English used to build their ships there. Necessary implements for ship-building such as timber and iron were available locally. Among the crafts, fine wood-work, ivory and shell-inlay work were done with great skill. These works were in great demand in European countries. The kingdom of Golconda also earned rich dividends from custom duties imposed on export and import. The kingdom had flourishing trade connections with South-East Asian countries, Iran and Arab. The Dutch and English trading Canpanies established its connection with European and other Asian nations. The kings of Golconda took keen interest in the promotion of trade and commerce. They extended liberal terms to the traders. Specially the Dutch and English trading Ccxnpanies received very generous treatments at their hands. ...V (v) It is admitted that the available materials showing these activities In the klngdcxn of Golconda Is plenty. However^ some of the basic questions have been answered In the present work, A detailed study based upon the Portuguese sources* preserved in the Goa archives Is bound to bring some more interesting details about the economic relations of the kingdom of Golconda %idth European countries. ABBREVIATION USED FOR REFERENCES A'lni for A' in~i-Akbarl Hadlqiat for HadilJM's Salatin Khafi Khan I for Mxintakhab'-ul-Lubab Ruq'at I for Rug* at-i-Alaraqlrl Shaflquttt for Khulasat-ul Hind Letters Recelvedi for Letters Received By The East India Company From Its Servants Relations t for Relations Of Golconda In The Early Seventeenth Cwitury Bemleri for Travels In the Mocful Btnpjre Thevenoti for Indian Travels Of Thevenot And Careri Tavemleri for Travels In India E,F,R,t for The English Factories In India Marshall I for John Marshall In India Abbe CarreI for The Travels Of The Abbe Carre In India And The Near East Bowery I for A Geographical Account Of Countries Roxxnd The Bay Of Bengal Streynsham Masters for The Diaries Of Streynsham Master Fryers for A New Accoxint Of East India And Persia Manucci s for Storia do Mogor Hamiltons for New Account Of The East Indies *************** ***** * ********-•• ******** * ********* ******* ***** *** * 9fr^ptfy ; ASiaCULTURAL PROPUCTS AMD THE LAND REVEfflJK APMIMI STRATI QM Th« traet th«t formed th« klngdon of Qoleond* was on« of tho most fartilo region in India.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Glorifying History of Golconda Fort
    High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748 The Glorifying History of Golconda Fort Dr.K.Karpagam, Assistant Professor, Department of History, D.G.Government Arts College for Women, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam District – 609001 Abstract India is a vast country with a lot of diversity in her physical and social environment. We see people around us speaking different languages, having different religions and practising different rituals. We can also see these diversities in their food habits and dress patterns. Besides, look at the myriad forms of dance and music in our country. But within all these diversities there is an underlying unity which acts as a cementing force. The intermingling of people has been steadily taking place in India over centuries. A number of people of different racial stock, ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs have settled down here. Let us not forget that the composite and dynamic character of Indian culture is a result of the rich contributions of all these diverse cultural groups over a long period of time. The distinctive features of Indian culture and its uniqueness are the precious possession of all Indians. Significance : The art and architecture of a nation is the cultural identity of the country towards the other countries and that's why the country which has a beach art and architecture is always prestigious to the other countries. The architecture of India is rooted in its history, culture and religion. Among a number of architectural styles and traditions, the contrasting Hindu temple architecture and Indo- Islamic architecture are the best known historical styles. Both of these, but especially the former, have a number of regional styles within them.
    [Show full text]
  • HYDERABAD Special Supplement Along with Jan-Feb 2021 Edition
    Incredible The Favourite Business Magazine of Retail Jewellers HYDERABAD Special Supplement along with Jan-Feb 2021 Edition SHREE JEE JEWELLERS SANGHI JEWELLERS MEENAKSHI JEWELLERS VINATI JEWELLERS NITIN JEWELLERS Incredible HYDERABAD 2019 | Buying List Incredible HYDERABAD The land of the Nawabs is a force majeure in all that glitters SANGHI JEWELLERS MEENAKSHI JEWELLERS VINATI JEWELLERS NITIN JEWELLERS 4 Incredible Hyderabad 2019 Hyderabad is the perfect heavyset jewellery and the ravenous place for jewellers who appetite that aromatic spices mixed want to tap the traditional together brings out in a palate found its and architectural origins in the land of Hyderabad. What was known as he City of Pearls inspirations into trendy, till about the 19th century, Hyderabad yet heritage designs was possibly the only place where because of the rich pool Golconda diamonds would be traded. of talent that the city Evidently, because it became a trading harbours in its heart hub, a rich tribe of talented gold and silversmiths, with a battalion of “Most transparent in business, talented craftsmen and karigars also exceptional designing, and here did the slowly sprung up like mushrooms, highest gemstones quality glittering culture that honing their fare and passing them in ornaments.” characterizes the down through generations. NITIN AGARWAL royalty exuded by Partner, Meenakshi Jewellers NawabsW come from? The sensational THE TRADITION OF THE taste and style, the royal aura in NIZAMS Meenakshi Jewellers 1. Year of establishment: 1951 2. Product speciality: Gold and gemstones 3. New innovations: We identified the niche and achieved superb year-on-year growth in exports. The fi fth largest city in the country still has its iconic jewellery bazaars that attract a lot of people, from within the country to outside.
    [Show full text]
  • Once Prized for Their Mystical Powers, Diamonds from the Golconda Mines of India Remain Among the Most Coveted of Gems
    INDUSTRY Once prized for their mystical powers, diamonds from the Golconda mines of India remain among the most coveted of gems. GolcondTahMe ystiqBY DuR. E RIC e EREL olconda diamonds were mined in the the country where diamond mines were originally discov - ancient kingdom of Golconda in south ered.As early as 800 B.C., Indian diamonds were collected central India — today the state of Hyderabad in secondary deposits.At the end of the thirteenth century, — beginning more than 2,000 years ago. For Marco Polo, the renownedVenetian traveler, visited the centuries, diamonds from these mines have been kingdom of Warangal and described the process of collect - prized for their incredible transparency,whiteness ing diamonds that took place after heavy rains fell, in the and purity.The renown of the Golconda mines also owes beds of the torrents. Later, mines were also dug underground much to the fact that a number of the world’s most in ancient alluvial deposits, and diamonds were historically significant diamonds have come collected in tunnels and open pits. The leg - from these mines. These stones include endary French diamond merchant Jean the Koh-I-Noor, the Regent, the Great BaptisteTavernier, who visited numer - Mogul and theTavernier Blue, from ous Indian diamond mines between which the Hope Diamond is the years 1630 and 1668, reported believed to have been cut. that as many as 60,000 persons Today, true Golconda diamonds were working in the mines at any are extremely rare and exist one time. mainly in museums or collections of renowned persons like Indian THE MAGIC OF rulers, European kings or rich con - GOLCONDA noisseurs, who can trace them back Mysticism and other magical to the eighteenth century or earlier.
    [Show full text]
  • GG-Online-Book-Reviews.Pdf
    EDITORS Susan B. Johnson Jana E. Miyahira-Smith Cartier at Prague Castle: most memorable specimens in this distinctive “Flora and Fauna”–inspired The Power of Style chapter are a platinum, diamond, and designs. Although the panther is one pearl Kokoshnik tiara, designed in of its most popular motifs, snakes, By the Prague Castle Admini - 1908, and a double fern-spray brooch. birds, and even crocodiles are master- stration, 322 pp., illus., publ. by “Avant-Garde and Art Deco” por- fully represented. Two of the most Flammarion, Paris, 2010. US$49.95. trays the transition from a monochro- remarkable examples in the chapter This impressive exhibition catalogue matic classic garland style to Art Deco are a pair of articulated yellow dia- was created for a celebration at the jewelry. Cartier achieved this transi- mond, emerald, and enamel tiger Prague Castle from July to October tion by introducing onyx into their motif ear clips sold to Barbara Hutton, 2010. Curated by Eva Eisler, the creations to give them more contrast and a realistic yellow diamond, ruby, unique exhibition of more than 400 and intensity. In 1915, Cartier began and emerald double-crocodile neck- objects included some of the most creating what was to become part of lace that was custom made for the iconic pieces amassed since the early their signature look, a panther motif Mexican actress Maria Felix. 1970s for the Cartier Collection. set with diamond and onyx to adorn a From the beginning, Cartier has The reader is taken on a fascinating delicate watch-brooch. The use of drawn upon eclectic tastes to create journey in the style of the red box jew- transparent elements such as rock noteworthy timepieces, ranging from eler.
    [Show full text]
  • The Wittelsbach-Graff Owned by the Legendary Diamond House – Graff
    Historical diamond: The Wittelsbach-Graff owned by the legendary diamond house – Graff An introduction to the company Graff diamonds is owned by the billionaire English jeweller, Laurence Graff. Born in 1938 to a Jewish family in the East End of London, his Russian father, Harry Graff, and Romanian mother, Rebecca Segal, lived a modest but hard-working life bringing up their son in the 1940s. His grandmother, too, was a hugely influential character in Graff’s life. She would administer advice to all the family and, despite being deeply religious, she was a shrewd businesswoman in a time when women were only just beginning to feel emancipation with the onset of World War Two. Growing up amongst the falling bombs of the war, Graff went to school at St George’s School in Shadwell and helped his mother in her sweet shop when he wasn’t at school. It was through this experience of being immersed in a busy Jewish community, living near the famous Hessel Street market, that Graff learnt about the ways of day-to-day trading and he developed a keen appetite for business. Aged only 15 years, he began his first job, employed as a jeweller’s apprentice in the famed streets of Hatton Garden in London. Employed for only three months, Graff was told by his employer that ’he would never make the grade’ 1 Undeterred, Graff attended Central St Martins College, then known as Sir John Cass Art College, whilst working for a different jeweller, but again, was made redundant when the company became bankrupt.
    [Show full text]
  • Read Book Great Diamonds of India
    GREAT DIAMONDS OF INDIA PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Monisha Bharadwaj | 144 pages | 01 Jul 2003 | India Book House | 9788175083264 | English | Mumbai, India Great Diamonds of India PDF Book A superb example of Medieval diamond-set jewellery from the mid to late s is the Crown of Princess Blanche, also called the Bohemian or Palantine crown, now in the treasury of the Munich Residenz 3. Subscribe Top Menu. By the time you hit the second or third owner over time, the information can get more difficult to research. And the true history has its share of drama. The visitors have made four changes to their The Koh-i- Noor would remain away from India—in a country that would become Afghanistan—for 70 years. At the turn of the 19th century, the British East India Company expanded its territorial control from coastal cities to the interior of the India subcontinent. Queen Victoria wore the diamond occasionally afterwards. There is a story that is commonly told in Britain that the colonisation of India — as horrible as it may have been — was not of any major economic benefit to Britain itself. The Persian general Nadir Shah went to India in Figure 1: A pink sapphire and diamond ring, crafted by a Greek goldsmith, two thousand years before the discovery of diamonds in Brazil in the s. A higher rating would have been given if Ritani had images of all their diamond inventory. If you want quality settings and quality diamonds then look no further than Victor Canera. Photo credit: antiqueprints. Another famous diamond found in India, it has a polished and cut size of The ring in figure 2 dates to about — AD and was found in Syria, then under Roman rule and strategic in the trade in luxury goods from India and the East.
    [Show full text]
  • CVD Synthetic Diamonds from Gemesis Corp. (2012)
    G&G_su2012_cover4_Layout 1 6/19/12 7:21 AM Page 1 G&G_su2012_coverspine_Layout 1 6/19/12 7:26 AM Page 1 G&G cover Summer 2012_white_text_Layout 1 6/25/12 2:11 PM Page 1 G EMS & G & EMOLOGY SUMMER 2012 VOLUME XLVIII THE UARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA S UMMER 2012 P AGES 79–156 Gemesis CVD synthetic diamond New sapphires from Sri Lanka Cultured pearls from Micronesia V OLUME 48 N O. 2 GIA_TradeAd_GG_A_FNL_v2_Layout 1 6/18/12 7:54 AM Page 1 zion_InStore_FNL_2012_Layout 1 6/18/12 7:53 AM Page 1 of the trade EPHRAIM ZION of Dehres Limited handles THE 4CS APP THAT ALSO PUTS YOU ON THE MAP. more diamonds in a day than most people see in a lifetime. Here he discusses the power of reputation, global diamond investment and why a GIA report is vital to any business built on integrity. List your retail location on GIA’s free 4Cs app for consumers. In addition to learning more about diamonds and the 4Cs through videos and fun interactive tools, consumers will soon be able to use the app to locate registered retailers who carry GIA-graded diamonds or have GIA-trained staff. The feature will be available on both the iPad and iPhone apps. What’s something most people don’t know about your job? It’s the only business in the world conducted on trust. You sell 1 to 5 million dollars just on the telephone, without even a signature. Register for the Retailer Locator today at www.retailer.gia.edu.
    [Show full text]