[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924) › c18.73 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c18.73 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c18.73 - **Language:** English ### [c18.73](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c18.73) The native law of India has ordinarily recognized agricultural land as being crown property, and has admitted the undoubted right of the ruling power to levy a crown rent, or 'land revenue', amounting to a considerable portion, either of the gross produce or of its cash value.¹ Even the English laws, which, contrary to general ancient custom, recognize private property in cultivable land, insist that the land revenue is the first charge on the soil, and permit the enforcement of the charge by sale of the land free of all incumbrances, in the event of default. The land revenue is still the mainstay of Indian finance. So it must have been in the days of Chandragupta. The details of his system of 'settlement', or valuation and assessment of the land, have not been preserved, and it is not known whether a fresh valuation was made annually, or at longer intervals. The normal share of the gross produce taken by the Crown is said to have been one-fourth; but in practice, no doubt, the proportion taken varied largely, as it does to this day, and all provinces could not be treated alike. Certain other unspecified dues were also levied. The army being a professional force, recruited from the fighting castes, the agricultural population was exempt from military service; and Megasthenes noted with surprise and admiration that the husbandmen could pursue their calling in peace, while the professional soldiers of hostile kings engaged in battle.² - [Previous: c18.72](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c18.72) - [Next: c18.74](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c18.74) - [Up: c18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c18) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c18.73](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c18.73) · Pramāṇa