Ancient Indian Costume c7.s3.4

c7.s3.4

For the first time trade with China was directly established through the ancient silk route. Indian traders settled down in Chinese Turkestan, which was annexed by Kanishka, the Kushan king. This included Kashgar, Khotan, and Yarkhand. Buddhist missions too were sent to China. In Rome, Augustus encouraged trade with India and exports increased resulting in a flourishing merchant class. In the north-western area coarse cotton and wool were used for making tunics and trousers for horsemen, hunters, foreigners, and doorkeepers. In central India textiles were of light-weight cotton, *tulapansi*. Both indigenous and foreign silks were plentiful but still very expensive.