<P> Indian textiles had maintained a competitive advantage over British textiles up until the 19th century , when Britain eventually overtook India as the world 's largest cotton textile manufacturer . In 1811 , Bengal was still a major exporter of cotton cloth to the Americas and the Indian Ocean . However , Bengali exports declined over the course of the early 19th century , as British imports to Bengal increased , from 25 % in 1811 to 93 % in 1840 . India , which was previously the world 's largest economy under the Mughal Empire in 1700 , had by 1820 fallen to become the second largest economy , behind Qing China . </P>
<P> Indian textiles had maintained a competitive advantage over British textiles up until the 19th century , when Britain eventually overtook India as the world 's largest cotton textile manufacturer . In 1811 , Bengal was still a major exporter of cotton cloth to the Americas and the Indian Ocean . However , Bengali exports declined over the course of the early 19th century , as British imports to Bengal increased , from 25 % in 1811 to 93 % in 1840 . India , which was previously the world 's largest economy under the Mughal Empire in 1700 , had by 1820 fallen to become the second largest economy , behind Qing China . </P>
what commodity formed the economic backbone of bengal in the eighteenth century
what commodity formed the economic backbone of bengal in the eighteenth century
cotton cloth
cotton cloth