A People's History of India 25:Indian Economy Under Early British Rule 1757 -1857

This volume in the Peoples History of India series gives a general account of Indian economy in the first century of British rule (1757-1857). It describes the changes in Indian economy brought about by the pressure for tribute the British land settlements and the triumph of free trade. In order to set these changes in a proper perspective it begins by furnishing a survey of pre-colonial economic conditions. A notable feature of the book is its reference to how aspects of Indian economy were seen and interpreted by contemporary observers. This is accomplished partly by a rich collection of extracts from the sources. There are also special notes on current interpretations of eighteenth-century history the nature of tribute or drain of wealth from India to England and the scope and problems of historical demography.