> If you mean ordinary people, then everywhere was poor, so travel authors would not have seen a shocking contrast. Have you read the memoirs of Hiuen Tsang? I

> If you mean ordinary people, then everywhere was poor, so travel authors would not have seen a shocking contrast. Have you read the memoirs of Hiuen Tsang? India was exceptionally rich before the invasions of both the Moghuls and the British (and other Western powers). It is not to be taken lightly when the British regarded India as the "Jewel in the Crown"[1]. 1: https://sites.google.com/site/imperialismindia/home/economic-reasons https://sites.google.com/site/imperialismindia/home/economic...