ABSTRACT
In the sixteenth century we do not have any record of intensive trading activities by Indians in Russia. To be exact, Indian traders in Russia became active only in the second half of the seventeenth century, although Russian sources note their presence in Astrakhan in 1615-16.2
e land route to Russia was too long and too dangerous;
remunerative trade was possible only if valuable but light goods were carried to these places. e rst half of the sixteenth century saw political instability in India and on its north-western frontiers, which certainly hampered the spirit of enterprise. Peace returned to northern India aer Akbar ascended the throne in 1550s. In the seventeenth century, the Mughals were intermittently at war with Persia and Central Asian chiefs. On one occasion land trade came to a complete halt due to Perso-Mughal feuds.3 us Goldberg’s explanation that increased land trade stimulated Indian merchant’s interest in Russian market cannot be accepted. An alternative theory seems more plausible. e Indian trade with Russia began only aer the sea route to the Gulf became freely available to Indian merchants; from Persian Gulf ports Indians could go to the shores of Caspian either through Persia or through Iraq.
