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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

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I SSN: 2395 -0463

Volume 04 Is s ue 02

Februa ry 2018

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 17

Exports and Imports under the Qutb Shahi Sultans

M.RAJU

M.A. (HISTORY)

Abstract:

The Qutb Shahi rule undoubtedly had succeeded to some extent, in giving

security to the population by disciplining thieved and decoits, and by chatching and

punishing criminals. This continued and considerate rule had taken cognisable shape

during the regime of Abdul Hasan Tanashah. Credit of course also goes to Madanna

for this benovolent rule.

Introduction:

The Qutb Shahi kingdom was divided into 1. Taraf (province) 2. Smith

(circle) 3. Sarkar (District) 4. Paragna (division) 5.Mahal (taluka) and 6. village.

Agricultural lands, villages, towns and ports were auctioned annually in favour of the

highest bidder. This system of auction was in vogue, from centuries. The successful

bidders were given, full possession of the areas for one year, which civil and criminal

powers. The chance of getting this area again in the auction for the next year also was

slender. Hence the auction winners, used to extract most, by fair and foul means, to

amass huge amounts during their tenture of one year. They perhaps believed in the

maxima “make hey while the sun shine.”

Izaradars were to pay the bid amount, in three installments on the prescribed

dates. Default will warrant merciless punishment. Public flogging parading, in chains,

trampling by elephants and confiscating of all their properties were a few of the

punishments. Most of the Izaradars were Brahmins. Their orders, were

unchallengeable in the villages. Public out-cry never reached the royal ear, as the

officials around the throne were under the obligation of the izaradars. These Izaradars

enjoyed civil and criminal powers. It was also their duty to catch and punish robbers

and thieves. As these criminals paid a part of their annual earnings to the Izaradars

they were seldom caught and rarely punished. Contemporary histories had given

detailed account of the annual auctions during the Qutb Shahi period. A few of them

are noted below for illustration.

In addition to the foreign trade, the local trade was also developed. Local

merchants sold their goods to the Western traders and these traders used to export the

Golconda goods to other countries. The Qutb Shahi rulers treated both the local and

foreign traders leniently and permitted the Europeans to exchange their goods with

the local people on free of tax. The patronizing attitude, and encouragement on the

part of the government, the geographical advantage of the coastal lines, famous

seaports and the advent of the Europeans contributed a lot for the development of

trade and commerce in Golconda region.

Indigenous trade, commerce and industries were encouraged. They were

protected from the cut-throat competition from European companies. They were also

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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

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http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

I SSN: 2395 -0463

Volume 04 I s s ue 02

Februa ry 2018

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 18

generally exempted from import and excise duties. Export and excise duties were

lowered on other nationals. Four percent of the value of the goods exported or

imported was collected as import and export duty from foreign traders, in addition to

the eleven percent of the value of the goods as “stamp duty”. European traders had

later obtained permission to pay a lumpsum annually in lieu of the stamp duty.

These indigenous merchants and European traders together developed internal and

external trade and commerce and by exporting and importing the following articles.

The Qutb Shahi culture which was evolved in the Andhra Desha gave an

impetus to trade and industry. Industries like textile industry, diamonds and steel

industry, wood carving flourished and supplied articles to the local as well as the

foreing markets. There was a tremendous expansion and growth of trade on the coast

due to the settlement by the European companies. It has to be admitted that the

advent of the European served as a great impetus to the expansion of trade. Many of

the commodities over long distances were also part of internal and trans-continental

trade. The exports

There was an extensive demand for foreign goods in Golconda Kingdom

during the period under review. There was a wide variety of articles imported into

Andhra. The articles brought in generally catered to the needs of the rulers, ministers,

officials, feudal lords the upper classes of society.

Golconda Kingdom attained significance in trade and commerce during the

16th and 17th centuries. When we survey, the imports and exports we know that

Machilipatnam and its hinterland had indeed close ties with several countries in the

East and the West across the Bay of Bengal. There indeed was a bilateral trade and

the countries where the goods were exported also provided the Andhra region with the

imports. The view that this region was only exporter of goods and not an importer is

incorrect, considering the long list of the imported goods that came into the territory.

The nature of this import trade changed with the European Companies. Thus it is

evident to that the merchants and trades like the Europeans, Persians, Armeniyans and

Local merchants thronged to carry business not only in India but outside India. They

are: 1) dress 2) footwear, 3) Agricultural goods 4) Industrial goods 5) instruments of

art and music 6) Domestic articles 7) Goods in military camps, etc.

Objectives:

The objectives of the proposed study are:

1. To trace out the systematic and detailed study of Industries and exports and

imports in Golconda Kingdom

2. To examine the factors contributed for the development of industries,

3. To observe the tools used and analyse the techniques adopted.

4. To trace out the traditional patterns of industries and exports and analyse the

creativity involved

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I SSN: 2395 -0463

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5. To identify the Arabic, Persian and European influences in the evolution of

techniques, industries and exports and imports.

6. To study the types of industries and their marketing system, exports, imports

etc,

7. To observe and analyse socio-economic status of the artisans community in

Golconda Kingdom

METHODOLOGY:

As the proposed study is a historical one purely an historical method will be

followed with the empirical base of the historical sources – both primary and

secondary. It is also proposed to take oral literature into account as it is basically

related to the socio-cultural life of the people.

Source – Material:

The primary source – material mainly consists of epigraphical and literary.

The epigraphical information can be had from the published volumes of Annual

reports on Indian Epigraphy, Epigraphia Andhrica, Insciptions of Andhrapradesh,

South Indian Inscriptions, the Inscriptions of Telangana, Epigraphia carnatica, etc.

The literary sources consist of indigenous and foreign. The indigenous literary

sources in this regard are very useful. Both the general literary works composed by

the court – poets and other works on industries and crafts techniques gives bundant

informationand local records (Kaifinates). Many European travelers such as Abdur

Razaaq, Barbosa, Paes, Nuniz, Tavernier, etc. visited Andhradesa during the period

under study. Their travelogues contain some information regarding the industries and

crafts followed in this regard.

Review of Literature:

Previously many researches on the history of the Kakatiyas, Reddi kingdoms

Vijayanagara and Qutbshahi dynasties, P.V.Parabrahma Sastri's work The Kakatiyas,

T.V. Mahalingam's work Administration and Social life under Vijayanagara,

Somasekhra Sarma's work History of Reddy kingdoms and H.K. Sherwani’s work

history of Qutbshahi dynasty deal with political, socio-economic and cultural history

of the respective dynasties. During 14th

- 17th century Handicrafts i.e. textiles, carpets,

bidri, inlay work, leather processing, cosmetics and the crafts of toys were popular in

Andhradesa but no attempt is made so far by any scholar exclusively on handicrafts in

Andhradesa with special reference to technological development. Scholars like Ms.

Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya worked on the Handicrafts of India, R.V. Rao.

Handicrafts of Andhra Pradesh though much informative, do not focus much on the

technological aspect of the Handicrafts. Hence the study is undertaken for trace out

History of Handicrafts and their industries in Andhradesa during AD 13th

- 16th

centuries.

The Proto and Early Historical cultures of A.P. by V.V. Krishna Sastry (1983)

gives a glimpse in to the origin and development of various handicraft techniques in