Beyond the Himalayan Borderlands : Indian textile production and trade with central Asia during Mughals

Due to its control over the region having the largest natural and human resources, the Mughal economy emerged as a potential export economy, allowing it to export a wide range of commodities to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Thus, cotton textiles and Indigo occupied a premier position among the most significant exports. Although India's textile export was significant, it also bought a vast variety of goods, making the Mughal Empire a significant importer as well. Despite exporting vast quantities of textiles, the Mughals also exported bullion to obtain essential imports such as war horses. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of Indian cotton textile exports to Central Asia. The study argues that, given the huge quantity of imports received by the Mughal Empire, it is impossible to believe that the trade balance was in favor of India.