Goa Through the Ages (Goa University Publication Series-6) Vol. 2: An Economic History

Goa Through The Ages: An Economic History is part of five- volume series planned by Goa University in its efforts to promote the cultural heritage of the territory and its people. The project is entrusted to historians with long experience of research in the history and culture of the land. The present volume brings together a sifted and synthesized picture of Goa’s economic past. It has incorporated the information and insights that have come in the recent past in sizable doses, largely as a result of the research promoted by the International Seminars on Indo-Portuguese history since 1978. Some aspects may have found less attention than the others. This itself should be a visible indicator of the gaps in our present knowledge calling for more research. Some aspects have received more space. One such aspect is (Trade). This perhaps rightly reflects its importance in Goa’s economic history as a result of its littoral nature and Strategic location. However, contrary to the overstress that has been observed in the past histories on the overseas connection, the emphasis has been shifted to the coastal and hinter-land linkages of that trade. This approach has helped to question some stereotypes and past generalisations. The present study is a combined effort of social scientists, including historians, anthropologists, demographers, and economists. It makes this study more comprehensive than the traditional jobs done by historians alone handling economic and other related issues.