Abstract

The common view of the transition in eighteenth century India from a medieval to an early-colonial formation as a fundamental rupture overlooks several structural continuities, especially in the fiscal bases of the state. Commercial grouth underpinned the transition; the state's finances in both regimes depended on highly monetised systems of revenue extraction. Both used these resources for military-fiscal pur poses. Contrary to conventional wisdom, there wasn't much increase in the net burden of taxes to mark the early colonial regime. The dif ferences arose in the fiscal inflexibility of the new system, its success in systematising the tribute to build an efficient military apparatus. and its propensity to use politics for commercial purposes in order to transfer the profits through an elaborate global network of public and private remittances.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.