According to widespread belief, poverty and low standards of living have been characteristic of India for centuries. Challenging this view, Prasannan Parthasarathi demonstrates that, until the late eighteenth century, labouring groups in South India, thos

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Weavers and merchants 1720-1760 2. Agriculture and cotton textiles 3. Weaver distress 1765-1800 4. Weaver protest 5. Labourers, kings and colonialism Glossary Bibliography Index.