History of iron technology in India : from beginning to pre-modern times / Vibha Tripathi ; foreword by Dilip K. Chakrabarti.

"Contributions to history of Indian science and technology"--Jacket.

CONTENTS

Iiilrodiictioit to the Series by M.G.K. Meiioii pii
Note on lujiuity Foundation ix
Foreword by Dilij) K. Chcikmburti xo
Editor's Note xxi
Prejace xxiii
Ackuowled(iemeitls xxvii
List of Tables xxix
List of Illustrntioiis xxxi
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. INCIDENCE OF IRON IN THE BRONZE AGE 15
3. ORIGIN AND DISPERSAL OF IRON IN INDIA 29
The Diffusion of Technology 30
Iron in Rigveda 32
Archaeological Evidence of Iron in the Borderlands 34
Iron in China - • • - 35
Indigenous Origin of Iron in li^ia ^ 38
The Early Iron Age CultureTin India ' 42
Early Centres of iron in India 50
A Multi-centred and Indigenous Origin of Iron in India 56
VI ❖ CONTENTS
4. IRON IN ANCIENT INDIA: FROM WROUGHT IRON TO STEEL 71
Development of Metallurgy in Ancient India 72
Literary References to Early Iron Metallurgy 95
Wootz Steel gjj
Iron Ore and its Mining IO3
5 IRON IN INDIA FROM THE IMPERIAL GUPTAS TO 119
THE MIGHTY MOGHULS
Status of Iron from the Imperial Guptas to the Early Medieval Period 120
The Monumental Structures 125
The Mighty Moghuls
The Iron Cannons 1^3
Production, Distribution and Marketing Mechanism of Iron and Steel 145
Condition of the Artisan
6 IRON IN BRITISH INDIA ,53
Status of Indigenous Iron during the British Period 153
Iron Production Centres
Status of Indigenous Iron: Summary and Discussion
The British and European Ventures
The Colonial Ambition and Stagnation of Iron Production
Decline of Indigenous Iron Industry
7. SURVIVAL AND REVIVAL OF THE INDIGENOUS
IRON INDUSTRY
The Traditional Iron Working
Iron-making in Netarhat Plateau-Jharkhand IL
Discussion
Economic Viability