Commercial relations between the Arab world and India (3rd and 4th/9th and 10th centuries)

Abstract

The present work is mainly concerned with the commercial relations between the Arab world and India in the 3rd and 4th / 9th and 10th centuries. The thesis consists of an Introduction and five chapters. The introduction contains a brief survey of the historical background to the Arab-Indian trade links In the period prior to the period of the research. lt also includes the reasons for choosing the subject, and the difficulties with which the research was faced. The introduction also contains the methods of the research and a study of the main sources. Chapter One deals with the Arab provinces, the main kingdoms of India, the political situation in the Arab world and India, and its effects on the subject. It also deals with the main economic products in the countries concerned. Moreover, the chapter focuses on the factors which encouraged the Arab-Indian trade. Chapter Two deals with the trade routes (Land and Sea routes), the caravans, ships, the sea ports and the commercial cities in the Arab world and India. Chapter Three deals with the trade procedures between the Arab world and India. It also deals with the taxes levied in ports and some land posts. The chapter ends by giving some details of the prices of of goods in both countries. Chapter Four gives a detailed account of goods exported and imported by both sides, and the real causes behind the export and import of these goods. The chapter also gives an account of how sometimes goods are imported by one side from the other in order to meet the local demands or to be exported in a process of trading nn a world wide scale. Chapter Five deals with a conclusion of what has been discussed earlier, in addition to some cultural aspects which have not been dealt with in the chapters above.