Women’s participation in business activities during the medieval period was an important but complex aspect of the Indian economy. Although medieval society was largely patriarchal and women’s economic roles were often restricted by social customs, caste norms, religious practices, and family structures, women actively contributed to production, trade, and commercial activities in various ways. Their involvement was visible in household industries, agriculture, craft production, market exchanges, and sometimes even in large-scale commercial enterprises. The economic role of women during the medieval period cannot be understood separately from the broader structure of the economy. The medieval Indian economy was based on agriculture, handicrafts, village industries, and expanding trade networks. Women formed a significant part of the labour force in agricultural and artisanal production. In rural areas, women participated in activities such as sowing, harvesting, processing grains, spinning, weaving, animal care, and preparation of agricultural products. Their labour contributed substantially to household income and the functioning of the rural economy, although it was often not officially recognised or recorded. Women’s participation was particularly significant in textile production, which was one of the major industries of medieval India. Spinning was largely considered women’s work in many regions. Women produced yarn from cotton, wool, and other fibres, which was later used by weavers to manufacture cloth. In regions famous for textile production, such as Bengal, Gujarat, and the Deccan, women contributed extensively to the textile economy. They also participated in embroidery, dyeing, and other related activities. The growth of domestic and international textile trade depended partly on this female labour. Apart from textiles, women were engaged in various household-based industries. They produced items such as pottery-related products, food items, oils, spices, and handicrafts. In many villages, women prepared goods for local markets and contributed to small-scale commerce. The production of dairy products, preservation of food, and preparation of goods for exchange were important economic activities performed by women. These activities strengthened local markets and supported family economies. Women from merchant and elite families sometimes played a more direct role in business activities. In certain communities, especially among trading groups such as Jains, Banias, and other mercantile communities, women participated in managing family businesses, financial matters, and property transactions. When male members of merchant families travelled for trade,