• Dr. Beena Kaushik

Trade and Commerce played a pivotal role in serving as engines of social change and Economic growth In Medieval Rajasthan. Trade Routes & Transportation Trade and commerce requires good routes and occupies an important place in the economy of the state. The routes started developing in the early Medieval Period with the growth of urban life because they were the connecting links between the towns and cities and towns and rural areas. The trade routes were developed by the frequent use of traders. The traders always preferred routes which were safe from natural obstacles such as mountains, deserts and deep forests. In addition, they chose routes which had easy accessibility to supply centers. Geographical location of Rajasthan offers some important linkages with numerous trade routes passing through it. The network of trade routes was connected prominently trading with important places/areas like Sindh, Multan, Agra, Delhi, Gujarat, Malwa and Punjab. The traders could pass through it with merchandise and the state earned revenue by levying duties upon them. To establish a trade link between the Mughal capitals of Agra, Delhi with the commercial centers of Gujarat such as Ahmadabad and Surat a route was marked out through Rajasthan, which created trading and revenue possibilities for the state. The geographical location influenced its history to great extent. However, the state was surrounded by the prosperous provinces like Sindh, Multan, Punjab, Gujrat, Malwa, Agra and Delhi. This benefited its economy and subsequently many important trade routes were developed in the region which brought evident Economy prosperity to the state. These imperial highways were connected with numerous internal routes which created a network of the trade-routes in the state in during the Medieval period. The well known centres of trade during the Medieval period in Rajasthan were Ajmer,Pali,Naraina,Nagour,Jodhpur,Jalore,Sirohi and Mewar.

Trade routes and Commerce, Economic growth, Medieval Rajasthan, prosperity.

"Important Trade routes in Economic prosperity in the perspective of Mughal Era Rajputana", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 9, page no.d229-d236, September-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2309322.pdf

"Important Trade routes in Economic prosperity in the perspective of Mughal Era Rajputana", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 9, page no. ppd229-d236, September-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2309322.pdf