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VOL. 8, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Guilds and Sārthavāhas in ancient India: Institutions of trade, corporate organization and long-distance commerce
Authors
Dr. Preeti Prabhat
Abstract
Guilds (śreṇī) and
sārthavāhas formed the backbone of commercial organization in ancient
India between the early historic period (c. 600 BCE) and the early medieval era
(c. 1000 CE). Far from being informal occupational clusters, guilds evolved
into sophisticated corporate institutions exercising economic, judicial,
financial, and civic authority. Parallel to these associations, sārthavāhas,
leaders of merchant caravans facilitated interregional and transcontinental
trade networks connecting India with Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the
Mediterranean world. This paper examines textual, epigraphic, and
archaeological evidence to analyze the History
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Pages:29-32
How to cite this article:
Dr. Preeti Prabhat "Guilds and Sārthavāhas in ancient India: Institutions of trade, corporate organization and long-distance commerce". International Journal of Educational Research and Studies, Vol 8, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 29-32
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