ABSTRACT
The economic life of Jains in medieval times can be reconstructed from a host of indigenous and European language sources. The narrative underlines certain important facts about the economic life of Jains in medieval times. The Jains have been famous traders since ancient times. In medieval times they persisted in the profession and prospered. Most of the Jain traders in medieval times, the big, the medium and the ordinary, generally traded in precious stones, diamonds, rubies, pearls, etc. They also sold ornaments, which are always in demand in the Indian society, cutting across caste, class and religion. The Jains took advantage of this persisting demand. It appears that investment in jewels and jewellery was a form of earning high profit and a form of hoarding wealth in troubled medieval times. The Jains utilized the capital which they commanded in many other activities allied to trade.
