A People`s History of India 25 - Indian Economy Under Early British Rule, 1757 -1857

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This volume in the People's History of India series gives a general account of Indian economy in the first century of British rule (1757-1857). It describes the changes in Indian economy brought about by the pressure for tribute, the British land settlements, and the triumph of free trade. In order to set these changes in a proper perspective, it begins by furnishing a survey of pre-colonial economic conditions. A notable feature of the book is its reference to how aspects of Indian economy were seen and interpreted by contemporary observers. This is accomplished partly by a rich collection of extracts from the sources. There are also special notes on current interpretations of eighteenth-century history, the nature of tribute or drain of wealth from India to England, and the scope and problems of historical demography.