Twilight of the Sultanate c17.s8.2

c17.s8.2

In this respect the fifteenth century was a period of great activity. Muslim conquerors and rulers possessed two special qualities. They looted recklessly and they spent recklessly.¹²⁷ From the time of Muhammad Ghorī onwards the loot from the temples and treasuries of Hindu kings, in other words the wealth lying frozen for decades and even centuries, was released into the market. We have seen that the kings, nobles, officers, soldiers, etc. lived a life of comfort and luxury. Trade and industry were fostered to satisfy their ever increasing demands, and money began to circulate in the market with ever greater vigour. Manufacturing centres were spread out all over the country and the State gave liberal encouragement to industry.¹²⁸ Although in the fifteenth century we do not hear of the *Kārkhānās* of the days of Fīrōz Tughlaq, yet absence of their mention does not necessarily point to their disappearance. On the other hand, there is evidence to the contrary. Both Wassāf and Marco Polo speak about the good soil and extensive cotton cultivation of Gujarat.¹²⁹ Gujarat produced good quality cloth. Similarly, according to Mahuan, an interpreter attached to the Chinese envoy Chang Ho who visited Bengal in 1406, five or six types of fine cotton fabrics were manufactured in Bengal alone. Besides these, Bengal specialised in manufacturing silk handkerchiefs, caps embroidered with gold, painted wares, basins, cups, guns, knives and scissors.¹³⁰ Varthema (1503-8) informs us that from Bengal and Cambay silk and cotton stuffs were sent out to Persia, Tartary, Syria, Arabia and Africa.¹³¹ According to Barbosa (about 1518) a kind of *shash* named *sirband* and made in Bengal was liked by European ladies for their head-dress and by the Arab and Persian merchants for use as turbans.¹³² These articles had a countrywide market also.