600 BC to 322 BC : Pre Mauryan Period

Salient Features

Recognised by NBP Culture.
Iron Age
Mines – Singhboom and Dhalbhoom in Jharkhand
Metallurgy to extract Iron from Iron ores and making alloy – steel
Change in agriculture techniques
Surplus Farming – Improved tools and techniques increased production.
Iron Plough – Deeper furrows – Needed for sugarcane
Irrigation – Rice and cotton
Transplantation in Peddy fields
Revenue
Land was controlled by Gahapaties ( Private possession of Land was started)
Cattle were private capitals. Grazing lands and forests were owned collectively by the community.
Land Tax was – 1/6 to 1/12
Monetary System – Puchmark coins
Mint was Controlled by The State
Silver, gold or copper coins
released by King, Setthis or Guilds.
Trade and Commerce and Urbanisation
Transportation improved. Wheels were covered with Iron plates – makes it more rugged, fast and long lasting.
New Towns flourished – Champa, Shravasti, Kaushanbi, Varanasi, Kushinara etc. More that 60 Urban centres all over India. 20 Big Towns.
Many Towns were the centre for crafts production, capitals or Trade centres.
Guilds – 18 Craft Guilds
Big Traders – Setthis –