Which statements are correct about trade and commerce in medieval period?
(a) The Gujarat silk industry was entirely dependent on the import of raw silk from china in course of the seventeenth century.
(b) Bengal received a quantitity of opium from Bihar.
(c) Gujarat received lac from Bengal for the manufacture of lacquerware.
(d) Bengal’s manufacture of conch-shell ornaments was based on the import of conch shells.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is D

• The Gujarat silk industry did have some imports from China but was not entirely dependent on it; it also used local silk production.
• Bengal importing opium from Bihar was common as Bihar was a major opium producer.
• Lac trade from Bengal to Gujarat is well-documented, supporting the lacquerware industry in Gujarat.
• Bengal's conch shell ornaments relied on imported shells since local supply was insufficient, which is why (d) is correct.

Information Booster:

• Gujarat’s silk trade had multiple sources; Chinese silk was one of them but not exclusive.
• Bihar was a major opium producer supplying Bengal and other regions, reflecting interregional agricultural trade.
• Lac, a resin secreted by insects, was used in lacquerware and was sourced from Bengal to Gujarat.
• Conch shells, prized for ornament-making, were often imported due to local scarcity, especially in Bengal.
• The medieval Indian economy was interdependent, with raw materials and finished goods moving across regions.
• Trade routes and market demands shaped the flow of commodities like silk, lac, opium, and conch shells.