Linked economies: Buddhist monasteries and cities

The relationship between monasteries and cities in the Gandhara region is poorly studied. The role of Buddhist monastic communities in the context of the region's ancient economy is even less so. This brief study analyses data from the best-studied archaeological areas and sites of the region, to present a model for interpreting the respective economic roles of cities and monasteries and the interconnection between them in the context of land management and resource exploitation.