Economic, Social and Cultural History of Ancient Bengal

Economic, Social and Cultural History of Ancient Bengal
Man is a social being. Living in a society is his nature. This needs mutual cooperation. That is
why man is required to develop different economic, political and other social institutions. Three
things are necessary for survival of man such as food, cloth and shelter & then man pays
attention to education, science, art, law for their development to lead a beautiful life. The unified
form of these activities of man in the development of social life is called culture.
Before the arrival of the Aryans, the people of ancient Bengal formed a social and cultural life.
This is, indeed, the most ancient form of Bengal Socio-culture. The people of Bengal have
achieved a trait of respective arms and organs as a result of a variety of exchanges and
integration for many years.
The economic condition of Ancient Bengal
Bengal is always an agricultural country. Most of the people of Bengal in the ancient time lived
in villages. They would all together build up villages & maintained their families by cultivating
the surrounding lands of the villages. Those who cultivated lands or used lands by any means
had to pay some specified taxes. There were mainly three types of land such as Habitable lands
with houses, cultivable fertile lands and fertile but unused lands. In addition to these three types
of land. They are meadows, market places, infertile lands, forests and lands for transport.
Bengal was famous for agriculture from the ancient time. So, the economy of the country was
built up depending on agriculture. Paddy was the main crop of Bengal. Besides, Bengal had fame
for jute, sugarcane, cotton, indigo, mustard and betel cultivation. Fruit-bearing trees were mango,
jackfruit, coconut, betel-nut, pomegranate, banana, lemon, fig, dates etc. Domestic animals were
cows, goat, ram, poultry, dog etc. Salt and dried fish were produced in some parts of the country.
Cardamom, cloves etc. were also produced in Bengal.
All things necessary for village people were produced in the village itself. Ancient Bengal was
very rich in cottage industry. Things made of iron were chopper, axe, spade, spud, small spud,
plough etc. Besides, water-pot and fighting-weapons like arrow, spear, sword etc. were
produced. Things made of earth included pitcher, small pitcher-shaped water-pot, large pots for
cooking, dishes etc.
Gold industry and gems and jewels industry developed very much for luxury things. Wood
industry was also very developed. Different types of boat to move in rivers and big boats and
ships to move in the sea were made of wood.
Though is an agricultural country, different kinds of industrial goods would be produced from
ancient time. Bengal would conduct business with many countries of the world in the ancient
time. Export oriented products of Bengal such as cotton and silk cloth, sugar, molasses, salt,
cassia and other spices, rice, coconut, betel-nut, plants for producing medicine, different types of
diamonds, pearls etc. were worth mentioning.
Bengal became famous for textile industry in the very ancient time. Famous Muslin cloth would
be produced in Bengal from the very ancient time. Bengal was also noted for sophisticated and
delicate cloth made from cotton and silk. Agricultural and industrial goods were in plenty in
Bengal. Again, these goods were in great demand in different regions of India and in many
countries of the world.
Bengal was specially developed in foreign trade at that time. With the development of industry,
trade and commerce of Bengal widely expanded. Commercial exchanges were done through both
road and water ways. Trades were conducted with China, Nepala, Bhutan, Tibet and Middle Asia
by road.
Bengal conducted exchange of goods with other regions of India through road and water ways.
That is why big cities and commercial ports were established in many places of Bengal. These
are Nabyabashika, Kotibarsha, Pundrabardhan, Tamrolipto, Karnasubarna, Saptagram etc. Of
course, in addition to cities trade and commerce would be conducted in village markets.
In these village markets daily necessaries produced in the villages were bought and sold. May be,
there was a custom called 'Binimoy Pratha' (custom of exchange of goods) for sale and purchase,
and trade and commerce.As a result of industrial development and expansion of trade and
commerce, riches and wealth of Bengal increased tremendously. Probably, before the 4th century
BC usage of currency started in Bengal.
Social life in Ancient Bengal

Before the Maurya rule no political identity grew up in the people of Bengal in a broader Sense.
During this time society was divided into different classes. Before the Aryans, some religious
thoughts spread into Hinduism in the later periods.
Among them remarkable are Karmafal (consequences of one's actions especially of previous
birth that governs one's weal and woe), belief in rebirth, practice of yoga etc. The influence of
many customs and manners of this age are noticed in Hindu society in the later periods.
For example, giving the guests to eat betel and nut, singing for the Shiva, anointing turmeric on
body in marriage, putting on 'dhuti-shari' (white cotton sari with narrow border of any color put
on by widows of Hindu society or by Brahmins or worshippers) and using vermillion in the
forehead of married women etc.The caste system was a very essential part of Aryan society. As a
result of their living here for a long time, this system was also introduced in Bengal.
There were four castes in Bengal in them ancient time. They are Brahmmana, Kshatriya ,
Vaishya and Sudra. In the later periods more varieties of crossbred people originated. Every
caste in the society had particular occupation. Studying, teaching and performing religious
activities were the jobs of the Brahmins. They would get the highest dignity in the society. The
occupation of the was fighting. Trade and commerce were done by the Vaishyas. The Sudras of
the lowest class would generally do agricultural work, fishing and other lower jobs. People of all
other castes except the would associate with one another. Generally, marriage would take place
within the same caste.
Women of Bengal girls had fame for their good qualities. The girls would receive education. In
those days there was no system of putting on veils. Men could keep more than one wife. A
widow had to take food without animal protein (fish and meat) and give up luxury. The husband
being dead, the wife would also be roasted to death along with her husband. This system is called
'Satidaha Pratha'. Women did not have any right on wealth and property.
We can know about the good moral character of the Bengalees from the ancient religious
scriptures of Bengal. But it cannot be said that there was no corruption and obscenity in the
social life of the Bengalees. All types of fish were available. In the East Bengal Hilsa and dried
fish were very popular foods. Vegetables such as brinjal, gourd, pumpkins, kakrul, etc. were
produced. Fruits such as mangoes, jackfruits, Palams, coconuts, sugarcane were available.
In the matter of dresses there was no pomp and gorgeousness except kings and rich people. Men
and women in Bengal would put on 'dhuti' and sari respectively. There was an arrangement of
special dress for different occasions.
There were arrangements of different types of sports and amusement in those days. But singing
and dancing were more in vogue. Vina, flute, dhak dhol, even earthenware were used as musical
instruments. Wrestling, hunting, exercise, boat racing etc were very popular with men.
Amusement like gardening, swimming was also in vogue among women.
'Annoprashon' (when a baby eats rice for the first time), marriage, obituary etc. social occasions
were in vogue in those days also. There were thirteen parbans (programs) in twelve months. On
these occasions there were arrangements of festivals and amusements. Like the present time, '
Nabanno, Rathjatra Astomisnan, Holi, Dashhara', 'Akhyatritia', 'Gangansnan'(bathing in the
Ganges as religious ritual) etc. are familiar programes which were in vogue also in those days.
After birth, some programs like naming the baby, 'annoprashon' etc. usages would be held. The
influence of the religious scriptures on the daily life of the people of ancient Bengal was very
strong. The rules on which hour which food is prohibited, on which hour fasting is suitable and
which time is auspicious for marriage, starting of education of child, going abroad, pilgrimage
etc. were strictly followed.
The main form of transport of the people of ancient Bengal was cart drawn by oxen and boat.
People would cross canals by small bridge made of bamboo.
As an agricultural country, people of Bengal lived in villages. The life of the people was happy,
after all. The main power was in the hands of the high class of people i.e. the Brahmmanas. In
this time, only the Brahmmanas could practice the knowledge of scriptures. The oppression of
the Brahmmanas was intolerable to the general people. This oppression was more exercised upon
the Buddhists. General people were very displeased at the oppression of the Sena rulers at the
later stages. During Sena regime distress descended on Buddhist society and culture.
At the last stage of ancient Bengal the foundation of the Muslim society started to grow up at this
disordered condition. The Middle Age came into being through the establishment of Muslim
society. During this time the form of society and culture of Bengal got changed.
Religious Conditions of Ancient Bengal
Nothing exact can be known which religion was in vogue in ancient Bengal before the
establishment of Aryan religion. Because the history of the religious activities of those primitive
settlers in the history of worshiping, fear and devotion, beliefs and prejudices of the people of
small ethnic communities of country Bengal confined in Janapadas. Then the nature of religion
was not the same throughout the country. Rather differences were noticed in religious activities
with the differences of castes, classes, Janapad etc.
All the same, their ancient religious beliefs, prejudices, methods of worshipping were
transformed and mixed with the Aryan religion. Still today, tree worshipping, use of mango
leaves in worshipping, grass, banana, betel-nut, coconut, small pitcher-like container, vermillion
etc. in vogue among village women in Bangladesh is derived from the people of small
communities. Thus the worshipping of Manasa, Kali, Banadurga, Shosti etc. bear the identity of
the religious activities of the small communities. People of different Kaums such as Khasia,
Munda, Sautal, Rajbangshi, Buno, Shabar worship trees, stones, mountains, birds and animals,
fruits and roots as Gods and Goddesses like their primitive forefathers.
As a result of the patronage of Barma and Sena rulers Vedic religion spread further in the
eleventh and the twelfth century. Almost all of the kings and the Mahagrajas believed in
Brahmmin religion.
Then Buddhism got damaged to a great extent.
New Gods and Goddesses were basically the Gods and Goddesses depicted in the Purana's and
epics. So, this religion is called Pouranic Religion. Various types of superstitions appeared as the
parts of religion.

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Social life in Ancient Bengal

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