Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s12.1

v2.c41.s12.1

There were strong resemblances between the phenomena of the first urbanisation in India (Harappan civilization) and the second, in the mahajanapadas of the first millennium BC. The second phase witnessed a revival of not only the widespread used of minerals and metals, and extensive trade, but also of the necessary infrastructure for scientific standardisation of commodities and parameters. The Arthasastra prescribed standardisation (pautava, from the word pu, to purify, refine) of weights (tula) and measures (mana), space (desa) and time (kala) (sections 2.19 and 2.20). A superintendent (pautavadhyaksa) was supposed to supervise the manufacture and proper use of standard weights and measures (2.19.1).