This series of lectures by J.N. Samaddar, a pioneering Indian economist of the mid-twentieth century, provides a penetrating analysis of the economic structures and processes of ancient India. Drawing on a wide range of sources, from ancient texts to archaeological findings, Samaddar offers fresh insights into the ways in which India's economy evolved over time and the ways in which it differed from the economies of other ancient civilizations. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.