Lothal: Discovered in Saurashtra, Gujarat in 1954 is regarded as the oldest Port and Dry Dock in India. Part of the Indus Valley Civilization, Lothal is dated to 3700 B.C. The port city was a thriving centre for trade, specialised manufacture and dealing in gems, beads, copper wares.
Shreni, was an association of traders, merchants, and artisans found in Ancient India. Shreni as an Institution has been compared to guilds. People engaged in the same vocation, profession formed Shreni’s and they were recognized by the state. The system of shrenis is regarded as essential to the high quality of manufacture as well as stable commerce systems prevalent during the Gupta period of Indian history. Shrenis are believed to have existed between 5th century BC and the Gupta era (320-550 CE)
Indian stock market marks to be one of the oldest stock market in Asia even older than the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which was established in 1878. It dates back to the close of 18th century when the East India Company used to transact loan securities. In the 1830s, trading on corporate stocks and shares in Bank and Cotton presses took place in Bombay. An informal group of 22 stockbrokers began trading under a banyan tree opposite the Town Hall of Bombay from the mid-1850s, each investing a (then) princely amount of Rupee 1. This banyan tree still stands in the Horniman Circle Park Mumbai. In 1860, the exchange flourished with 60 brokers. In fact the first ‘Share Mania’ in India began with the outbreak of the American Civil War and cotton supply from the US to Europe stopped.
