Correct option is D
The correct answer is (d) Astrologers
Explanation:
• During the Mauryan period, guilds (known as 'Shrenis') were associations of artisans and merchants who performed economic functions.
• Astrologers were professional scholars or advisors but did not form industrial or artisan guilds like craftsmen.
• Economic activities were highly organized, and artisan guilds were prominent in urban centers.
• Guilds acted as banks, producers, and regulators of quality and prices.
• Most productive crafts like weaving, pottery, and woodworking were organized into these shrenis.
Information Booster:
• Kautilya's Arthashastra mentions the importance of guilds in the Mauryan state economy.
• The head of a guild was typically called a 'Jetthaka' or 'Shreshthin'.
Additional Knowledge:
Potters (Option a)
• Pottery was a major industry, and potters were organized into powerful guilds.
Carpenters (Option b)
• Woodworking was essential for building ships, chariots, and houses, making carpenter guilds very common.
Bankers and Merchants (Option c)
• Merchant guilds managed trade routes and often acted as financial institutions or bankers for the community.
So the correct answer is (d)
