History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent

History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent
Coin of Samudragupta (c. 350—375) with Garuda pillar. British Museum.	The iron pillar of Delhi (375—413).
Bronze Chola Statue of Nataraja at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.	Dagger and its scabbard, India, 17th—18th century. Blade: Damascus steel inlaid with gold; hilt: jade; scabbard: steel with engraved, chased and gilded decoration.

The history of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent began prior to the 3rd millennium BCE.^[1] Metals and related concepts were mentioned in various early Vedic age texts. The Rigveda already uses the Sanskrit term ayas (Sanskrit: अयस्, romanized: áyas, lit. 'metal; copper; iron').^[2] The Indian cultural and commercial contacts with the Near East and the Greco-Roman world enabled an exchange of metallurgic sciences.^[3] The advent of the Mughals (established: April 21, 1526—ended: September 21, 1857) further improved the established tradition of metallurgy and metal working in India.^[4] During the period of British rule in India (first by the East India Company and then by the Crown), the metalworking industry in India stagnated due to various colonial policies, though efforts by industrialists led to the industry's revival during the 19th century.

^ See Tewari (2003) and Arnold, 100-101.
^ wisdomlib.org (2017-12-20). "Ayas, Ayās, Āyas, Ayash: 15 definitions". wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
^ For Near East see Edgerton, 56 and Prasad, chapter IX. Greco-Roman world: Mondal, 2-3.
^ Gommans (2002)

[1] See Tewari (2003) and Arnold, 100-101.

[2] wisdomlib.org (2017-12-20). "Ayas, Ayās, Āyas, Ayash: 15 definitions". wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2023-10-22.

[3] For Near East see Edgerton, 56 and Prasad, chapter IX. Greco-Roman world: Mondal, 2-3.

[4] Gommans (2002)

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