Trade relations between India and China from the beginning to 1500 AD - Essay Example

The aim of this research paper is to investigate the history of India-China trade relations from ancient times till sixteenth century. There were several trade centers which served as essential commercial transactions between the two countries. The important trade centers in India were Puskalavati, Taxila, Tamralipti, Kanchi, etc. Puskalavati is considered to be the first gateway of ancient India and was the most significant commercial mart because it contributed actively in commercial transaction between India and China in the first century A.D. During the period of Sakas and Kusanas, trade between India and China was done through Puskalavati.

Taxila was the hub of international trade and was essential trade route between India and Central Asia (Shaffer, 123). It also assisted western traders in their trade with China. Chinese merchants used to come to Kanchi through foreign ships to buy pearls, glass, precious stones and other Indian products and exchanged gold and silver. Tamralipti was another important port in Bengal which carried trade links with China (Shaffer, 129). Canton was the essential Chinese city which had established trade links in India.

Other important trade links between China and India included Ping-Yang and Kwi-Yang. Trade relations between the two countries existed during the Madagh-Maurya era of fifth and sixth centuries B.C. The Gupta period further proves it. Sixth Century BC indicates the fundamental period in Chinese history because the State of Tsin had introduced important amendments in economic and political fields (Eberhard, 34). This had increased the commercial relationship between India through land routes. During sixth century B.

C, India and China took advantage of the trade opportunities that existed. The Indian muslin silk cloth had captured the international market which also helped to popularize the Chinese silk. Great demands for Chinese silk from all over the world came and