Economic Condition of Ancient Bengal

Bangladesh is mainly an agricultural country. Hence, the economy of the country developed depending on agriculture. Paddy was the main crop. Besides, there was sugarcane. Molasses and sugar made from the juice of sugarcane were exported and a lot of money was earned. Bengal was famous for the cultivation of cotton, mustard and betel leaf. Among the fruit bearing trees, mention of coconut, betelnut, mango, jackfruit, pomegranate, banana, lemon, etc., are worth mentioning.

One important source of Bengal's economy was cloth. Many industrial goods were prepared in Bengal. Bengal was famous for textile industry since the ancient time. Fine cotton and silk cloths were produced in great quantity in this country. In the first century, huge quantity of high quality cloths were exported to foreign countries. The world famous Muslin cloth has been manufactured in Bengal since the ancient time.

Many small industries grew in the ancient time. Earthen pots, gold and silver ornaments, boats, the bullock carts, decorated wooden materials, etc. were made at that time. Business flourished with the development of industry. Transportation of goods was convenient as there were many rivers in Bengal. A lot of markets, trade-centres and cities grew up on the banks of the rivers due to this. It has been mentioned before that Bengal had trade links with foreign countries. Hence, the Muslin cloth, pearls and different kinds of trees and plants were exported to foreign countries through the waterways.