Rise and Decline of Artisan Industries in India

The artisan industries — comprising weavers, metalworkers, potters, carpenters, jewellers, ivory carvers, and shipbuilders — formed the backbone of India’s pre-colonial economy. Before British rule, India was known globally as an exporter of fine textiles, handicrafts, and metalware, earning it the title of the “Industrial Workshop of the World. “However, under colonial domination, these flourishing industries collapsed due to de-industrialisation, displacement by British machine-made goods, and colonial trade policies.

Rise of Artisan Industries in Pre-Colonial India

Ancient and Early Medieval Periods

Period

Major Centres

Characteristics

Mauryan Age (321–185 BCE)

Taxila, Pataliputra

State-supervised crafts, guild regulation (Shrenis).

Gupta Period (320–550 CE)

Mathura, Sarnath

High-quality metallurgy, terracotta, and textiles.

Chola ....

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Indian History