Sushil Chaudhury Libri

The narrative explores the global significance of Bengal textiles from the mid-seventeenth century until their decline following the British conquest in 1757. It highlights the craftsmanship and cultural impact of these textiles, detailing their widespread appeal and the factors contributing to their eventual downfall. Through this historical lens, the book examines the interplay between local artisans and international markets during a transformative period in Bengal's history.

Focusing on early modern Indian history, the essays explore various factors influencing trade, politics, and society, particularly in Bengal. They aim to provide fresh insights that challenge established misconceptions, emphasizing the complexities of commerce and its impact on the region's development. This collection offers a nuanced understanding of the interplay between economic activities and social dynamics during this pivotal era.

The anthology challenges the prevailing narrative of early modern Bengal's economic decline prior to British conquest. Utilizing original sources from both European and Indian archives, the essays reveal that Bengal was economically prosperous in the mid-eighteenth century, countering the misconception of an impending crisis. This collection offers a nuanced understanding of the region's history, emphasizing its economic strength and political stability during this period.

This volume examines the various forms and techniques of cashless payments and transactions known to the world since Ancient times. The different contributions to this volume focus primarily on the non-European areas, as well as those European examples that did not correspond to the mainstream technique provided by the Italian, or classical, bill of exchange developed since the Middle Ages.Room will be given to the following issues What means of cashless payment existed in the cultures and societies beyond Europe? Which other, non-mainstream techniques of cashless transactions existed within Europe? Why did the "Italian" or "European" bill of exchange prove to be superior and more successful than any of the other known techniques? Case studies drawn from a wide range of areas demonstrate that most economies facing an acute or permanent shortage of coin found ways of utilizing or creating surrogate money. Across the world and through all times people knew techniques of settling outstanding balances using cashless payments in some form.