Discuss the economic condition of the people during the Gupta period.

In the early hostoric era we know that main source of income for the common people were agriculture. They depended highly on it and the ruler depended highly on it. But it was also a time when trade emerged. During the Gupta period we see that

(a).  Lot of progress were made in agriculture, industry, trade, business and banking.

(b) From the inscriptions of the Gupta period dealing with land, it is clear that it was not easy to secure any fallow, uncultivated or un-settled land for charitable purposes.

(C)  Works of public utility were constructed at many places. The Sudarsana reservoir was constructed by daming the flow of river down the hills near Girnar in Saurashtra to improve the agriculture.

(c) It appears that there were separate guilds or srenis or nigamas for industry, trade and banking.There are references of guilds to shresthis or bankers, kulikas or artisans, sarthavahas or traders. Banking was an important function of the guilds. The latter accepted donations which were permanent and irrevocable. Out of this money, the guilds made payment to be beneficiaries named by the donors.

(d) The Gupta rulers issued currency of different designs, types and denominations. Coins were also of different metals viz; gold, silver and copper.

(e) In the Gandhara inscription, there is a reference to the amenities of a city such as wells, tanks, temples with halls, storage of drinking water, parks, lakes, causeways, etc.

With overall peace and security during the period, trade, agriculture etc bloomed. Thus we find that economic condition were good.

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