# Akshay Chavan on The Wealth Networks, Ancient India & How Trade Shaped History! | Cyrus Says

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/cyrus-says-173619/akshay-chavan-on-the-wealth-networks-ancient-india-how-trade-shaped-history-cyrus-says
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/cyrus-says-173619/akshay-chavan-on-the-wealth-networks-ancient-india-how-trade-shaped-history-cyrus-says.md
Podcast: [Cyrus Says](https://stenobird.com/podcast/cyrus-says-173619)
Published: 2026-09-14T00:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://omny.fm/shows/cyrus-says/akshay-chavan-on-the-wealth-networks-ancient-india-how-trade-shaped-history-cyrus-says
Audio file: https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e0dce4b3-2eb8-48cb-822c-af1d00e03e20/9baef9c9-4ff2-4b4e-a3dd-af540094e334/a6860cfb-716a-4927-b3d4-b4c200d05655/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=270ddb3d-16c8-4190-81d4-af540094e347
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Duration seconds: 3393

## Resource

Welcome to Cyrus Says! On this episode of Cyrus Says, author Akshay Chavan joins Cyrus Broacha to talk about his new book, The Wealth Networks, and a side of Indian history shaped by trade, geography and commerce. Akshay talks about how ancient India was connected to the world through spices, cotton, gold, silver, horses and major trade routes. He also gets into the Golconda diamond mines, Bihar’s role in the global saltpeter and gunpowder trade, and how places like Paithan, Bharuch, Sopara, Hormuz and Mangalore became important trading centres. The conversation also covers Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, India’s horse trade, the wealth of the Jagat Seths, and how coffee, cotton and silver connected India to Yemen and Europe. Listen to the full episode for a fascinating look at The Wealth Networks, ancient Indian trade, Indian history, Golconda diamonds, Harappa and how geography shaped India’s wealth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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