From the descriptions of Ibn-Battuta, what glimpse we find about the agricultural economy of the village and trade and commerce of the subcontinent?
Ibn-Battuta had no interest in describing the prosperity of the cities. But the historians have used his description to argue that the prosperity of the cities depended on agricultural economy of the villages. According to Ibn-Battuta, Indians agriculture was quite productive. Its reasons was the fertility of the land. It eas easy for the farmers to grow crops in a year. Ibn-battuta also saw that the subcontinent was part of a global network of communication. The Indians goods were in great demand in Central and South East Asia. It was profitable to both artisans and merchants. There was a great demand in India for cotton cloths, soft muslin, silk brocade and satin. Ibn-Battuya tells is that some kinds of mislin were so costly that only the rich could afford to buy them.
In other words, the coties of the subcontinent provided exciting opportunities to those who had necessary drive, skill and resources. All the cities had colourful markets having a wide variety of goods. The bazaars were the main places of economic transactions. They intgrated with inter-Asian networks at trade and commerce.
