{"product_id":"caravans-punjabi-khatri-merchants-on-the-silk-road-by-scott-c-levi","title":"Caravans: Punjabi Khatri Merchants on the Silk Road by Scott C. Levi","description":"\u003carticle class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-690b35d4-a030-8323-b117-12c634053bf7-17\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-132\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] thread-sm:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] thread-lg:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] thread-lg:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"9c79c24b-7a39-4067-a0a6-627c8cc21bbd\" dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"1123\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"17\"\u003eBook Summary:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"17\" data-end=\"20\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"20\" data-end=\"73\"\u003eCaravans: Punjabi Khatri Merchants on the Silk Road\u003c\/em\u003e by Scott C. Levi is a fascinating historical study that uncovers the vital role played by Punjabi Khatri merchants in connecting India to Central Asia through overland trade networks between the 16th and 19th centuries. The book challenges the common belief that overland trade declined after the rise of European maritime commerce, showing instead that Indian merchants—particularly the Khatris—continued to thrive as key players along the Silk Road. Through extensive archival research and historical evidence, Levi traces how these merchants established far-reaching trade and credit networks that spanned India, Afghanistan, Iran, and even Russia. The book explores their commercial practices, family ties, cultural adaptability, and interactions with local rulers and empires. By blending economic history with human stories of migration and resilience, \u003cem data-start=\"933\" data-end=\"943\"\u003eCaravans\u003c\/em\u003e provides a fresh perspective on how Indian merchants shaped early modern Eurasian trade and contributed to the interconnectedness of global economies long before the modern era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"2056\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1146\"\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1146\" data-end=\"1149\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScott C. Levi \u003c\/strong\u003eis an American historian and professor of Central Asian history at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on the economic, social, and cultural history of early modern Central and South Asia, with special attention to trade networks, merchant diasporas, and cross-cultural interactions. Levi has written extensively on the historical connections between India and Central Asia, including works such as \u003cem data-start=\"1574\" data-end=\"1636\"\u003eThe Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade, 1550–1900\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"1641\" data-end=\"1705\"\u003eCentral Asia in the Global Age: The Rise of the Uzbek Khanates\u003c\/em\u003e. His scholarship is known for challenging Eurocentric narratives and highlighting the agency of Asian merchants and societies in shaping global trade. Through \u003cem data-start=\"1865\" data-end=\"1875\"\u003eCaravans\u003c\/em\u003e, Levi combines meticulous research with accessible storytelling to shed light on the dynamic role of Indian traders in the broader history of the Silk Road and early globalization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" data-edge=\"true\" class=\"pointer-events-none h-px w-px\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Clapping Pages","offers":[{"title":"Used","offer_id":45311686541498,"sku":"36CMXITXD-Used","price":15.0,"currency_code":"AED","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/5576\/0826\/files\/41iwxnj8-yL_677f9bc1-045e-4b6f-b276-f2c005ed1fe2.jpg?v=1762856664","url":"https:\/\/clappingpages.com\/products\/caravans-punjabi-khatri-merchants-on-the-silk-road-by-scott-c-levi","provider":"Clapping Pages","version":"1.0","type":"link"}