International trade and the political economy of state formation in South Asia: a long wave

Abstract

The model presented in this essay situates the political economy of large scale state formation in south Asia within a geographical context. The narrative is taken up from the decline of empire in the ancient phase of Indian history. South Asian civilisation has essentially been nurtured in {nuclear core areas| of economic and cultural activity around the major riverine plains their delta regions. Land revenue appropriation by itself could not form a sufficient basis to support a State structure from the originating core on a sub-continental scale. This required an expanding frontier in the shape of cash revenue earned from flourishing long distance trade and/or plunder.