Commercial Practices In The Ancient Indian Peninsula: Glimpses From Kautilyas Arthashastra

Abstract

Very few westerners ever heard of Chanakya, a.k.a Kautilya. Kautilya is credited with compiling the treatise on statecraft called the Arthashastra. This treatise contains fifteen distinct chapters or parts encompassing all components of statesmanship that a ruler needs to run the affairs of his kingdom. This paper briefly narrates some of the commercial practices prevalent in Ancient India enumerated in Kautilyas Arthashastra during the Mauryan period.