India, Nov. 28 -- HistoriCity | Labour evolution through history

In a deeply structured society such as the one described in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharat, labour rights did not exist, not at least in the modern sense. Since the Mauryan period which takes us back to the second half of the last millennium before the common era i.e 2,500 years ago, we have both inscriptional and textual evidence that suggests that labour was required mainly for cultivation, for household work and menial tasks at establishments of the elite castes. Artisans, craftsmen were valued for their skills and were paid handsomely compared to slaves, forced labourers who came from Shudra castes. Slaves were also captured in large numbers during wars.

During the ...