PROJECT TITLE

ROLES OF GUILDS IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA

SUBJECT
HISTORY

ABSTRACT

ROLE OF GUILDS IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA

People following the same occupation and crafts, residing at one place, cooperate with each other
and formed guilds. Scholars are divided on the issue of whether the guild system was in
existence in the early vedic period. No connected or systematic accounts of guilds in the earlier
stages is available. Division of labour under the varna system was conducive to the rise of guild
organisation. Agriculture, cattle farming and trade, the three occupation of vaishyas in course of
time developed a seperate groups, The sudras took up such menial crafts as were look down
upon by the higher varnas, while some non-aryans mostly incorporated into the sudra varna of
the brahmanical society too came from separate economics group. The emergence of sizeable
kingdom from sixth century BC led to the interlinking of far flung areas and must have
fasciliated procurement of raw materials from, and sale of finished goods in distinct reasons. The
pooling of resources and managerial skills could be achieved better by craftsman and traders
organized into guild. In this project the student researcher will further elaborate about the role of
guilds in ancient and medieval India.

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