IGNOU FST ASSIGNMENT 2019 Q1

Q)Discuss social organisation and improvements in agriculture, crafts and trade during the Gupta period.
ANS)Social Organisation during Gupta Period 
In the Gupta empire, the main mode of production was agriculture. The Gupta kings continued the land acquisition started by the Mauryans. Samudragupta conquered a number of forest kingdoms in the valleys of the Ganges, Narmada and the Mahanadi. The pattern of land settlement in this period was however very different from different from that of the Maurayns. State control and ownership of the cleared land was greatly reduced and land passed into private ownership. New laws were enacted to allow individuals to administer land and collect taxes, irrespective of whether they tilled the land or not. Most of the Gupta kings irrespective of their individual religious faith, were secular as far as  the state was concerned. Buddhism Jainism and traditional Hindu institutions were all supported by the state through grants and patronage.
Lineage which had determined one's position in society gave way to a certain extent to one's property status. Thus Brahmins lost their pre-eminence.Importance if agricultural and craft production meant some improvement in the condition of the Sudras. In general, what one did in society what one did in society became important. Even Brahmins were obliged to take up occupation other than performance of religious rites.
This relaxation of rigid state control of the previous era had a liberating influence initially, as it encouraged individual initiative. It heralded a certain decline in the hold of the Brahmins ans that of the rigid 'varna' system over agricultural society.
Improvements in Agriculture during Gupta Period

Pepper and spices were grown for sport as well as domestic consumption.A wide variety of crops like rice wheat barley sesame pulses beans and lentils vegetables such as cucumbers onions pumpkin garlic and beetel were grown. New fruits like pears and peaches were introduced for the first time. All this did not take place as a random or as a matter of chance. There were proper manuals which gave information on the type and quality of soil required for each plant, various plant diseases, the distances between plants as well as sowing techniques(e.g. working of the soil before sowing). these manuals also described techniques for processing grain  vegetables and fruits. As a wide variety of soil types had to cultivated, new varieties of agricultural implements also appeared. Weights and designs of ploughshares for different types of soil were fixed and the use of iron for making agricultural implements became widespread. 
Improvements in Crafts during Gupta Period
Rapid strides were made during this era in metallurgical and weaving crafts. Rust proof iron and copper alloys were found and worked into intricate articles for civilian as well military purposes. The quality of the articles was so good that they were widely exported, even as far as Africa. In the design of these articles, there was to an extent Greco-Roman and Central Asian influence.However on the whole they had a local character.
In weaving, techniques were for the making of cotton and silk materials. Manufacture of dyes and their widespread use in coloring textiles came into practice.Indian textile materials especially from Varanasi and Bengal became famous for their light weight and fine texture. The textiles became popular in the west and and became an important commodity for export and trade.
Guilds or 'shernis' of artisans in this new situation of reduced state intervention became powerful and important.They enjoyed a great deal of intervention and drew up contracts among indviduals, and even entered into agreements with state authorities. The 'shernis' borrowed capital from individuals and paid them back with interest.This gave a tremendous to improve the crafts.
Improvements in Trade during Gupta Period
The importance of direct producers became greater as internal and external trade reached unprecedented volume and proportions.
Opening up previous inaccessible and uninhabited regions, organisations of better transport, communication and trade routes helped growth  of  trade. The existence of a huge market, spread over a vast empire, gave rise to extensive circulation of money through a flouring trade.For merchants just as for artisans there existed association which were also known as shernis. The main trade route were based around the rivers Ganges and Indus.The state still supervised the influx and sale of commodities.Internal trade was augmented by rapid development of foreign trade, actively encouraged through the foreign diplomatic contacts established by the Kushanas, the Satavahanas and the Guptas. Improvement in navigation by the Indians, especially by the Indians, especially using the knowledge of monsoons,and a new design of seaworthy ships played an important role in this. The Indians traded with Arabs, the Mediterranean countries, especially Rome, Africa, south-east Asian countries such as Java, Sumatra and Sri Lanka. The existence of associations too helped the growth of trade.