ABSTRACT
An attempt is made in this paper to analyse the nature, pattern and organization of textile trade and industry in Bengal Suba in the second half of the 17th century and first two decades of the 18th century. It is indicated here that the export trade in Bengal textiles had a phenomenal growth resulting from a great demand for these commodities in the European markets and there was a corresponding increase in textile production in Bengal during this period. So far as the European trade in Bengal textiles is concerned, we have ample quantitative data, but our information about the textile trade carried on by the Asian merchants is very scanty. Moreover, we are handicapped in our analysis by the paucity of material on the organization of the textile industry. But despite these limitations, it is possible to indicate the broad pattern and organization of textile trade and industry in Bengal during the period under review.
