Satavahana

Worlds Apart Trading Together sets out to replace the outdated notion of ‘Indo-Roman trade’ with a more informed perspective integrating the new findings of the last 30 years. In order to accomplish this, a perspective focusing on concrete demand from the ground up is adopted, also shedding light on the role of the market in long-distance exchange. Accordingly, the analysis conducted demonstrates that an economically highly substantial trade took place between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean in the 1st–6th cen. CE, altering patterns of consumption and modes of production in both India, South Arabia and the Roman Empire. Significantly, it can be documented that this trade was organised at the centres of demand and supply, in Rome and India, respectively, by comparable urban associations, the transport in-between being handled by equally well-organised private networks and diasporas of seagoing merchants. Consequently, this study concludes that the institution of the market in Antiquity was able to facilitate trade over very long distances, acting on a scale which had a characteristic impact on the economies of the societies involved, their economic structures converging by adapting to trade and the market.
NB: See uploaded addenda in paper below 'Worlds Apart Trading Together – addenda'
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—J. Simmons in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2018.09.59 (http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018-09-59.html).
—R. Tomber in Journal of Roman Archaeology 31, II (2018): 948–52.

Bi-lingual coins issued in the Indian Sub-continent may be classified in two groups. They are: 1] Issued by the alien (Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Indo-Parthian, Kushans and Shakas or Western Kshatrapas) governors / rulers who controlled the North-west part of India; 2] the Indian kings who either governed or had trade contact with two different linguistic provinces or groups.

The bi-lingual silver coins of the Satavahanas fall in to the second category i.e., either governed or had trade relation with different linguistic groups. This paper discusses the bi-lingual silver coins of the Satavahanas and attributes the reverse legend to Tamil language

Elephant (Airāvata - Vāhana of Indra Dev), has been found on the ancient Indus valley seals, punch marked coins and tribal coins and much later on Satavahana Coins. Their First appearance of an Elephant on a Satavahana coins arose out of fierce expansionist policies of Satavahana King Satkarni I and that of Kalinga King Kharavela.

Most Motif's on Satvahana Coinage remain same, however the Elephant undergoes a peculiar change. Disappearance & Re- Appearance of Tusker Elephants on coins of Satavahana Kings is not in any form a missed out motif forgotten by the mint masters. There is extensive transition ranging from, Geo-Concentric distribution, polarity change, Extensive losses in war-fare, trade, & then return of a long forgotten royal tradition, occurrence of a insignia on late satavahan coins, all is reflected upon the Satavahana coinage.

This paper highlights discussions by scholars going alongside with the evident changing culture during the entire Satavahana Empire.

Bi-lingual coins are one of the best primary sources to study the ethnic fusion that has happened in a particular region. Amongst the ancient civilisations, the Indian culture is the most fortunate one that has seen many cultural influxes by conquest, trade and commerce from the West and the East. Due to this, India became the meeting ground of different linguistic people, especially the Persians and the Greeks. To cater to the need of these groups, the ruling clans in India, especially the Mauryas, started engraving inscriptions on the rocks and stone pillars in bi-lingual scripts/languages.

The Greek and Aramaic inscriptions of Asoka inspired the Greek governors to issue the bi-lingual coins in Greek-Kharoshthi and Greek-Brahmi scripts in the Indian Sub-continent.

Satavahanas who ruled in the Deccan during the first few centuries BCE - CE, encouraged active trade with far off regions.  There were several sea ports on the East and West coast of India.  The paper encompasses information about , some of  the recently discovered ports, apart from the already known ports.  Evidence suggests active trade with Mediterranean as well as Chinese and other east Asian regions. Both archaeological and literary evidence is analysed in the paper.