7th Class Social Science Arts and Cultural Movements Notes - Towns, Traders and Craftsmen

 

Towns, Traders and Craftsmen

 

India has been a prosperous country since ancient times and tills continued during the medieval period. Also, there was an upsurge in the number of towns and cities. This was probably due to the excellent administration and policies of the emperors.

 

The medieval period in India witnessed the growth of many towns and cities. During this period, older cities were revived and new ones were established. How did this come about?

 

TOWNS IN MEDIEVAL PERIOD

 

Many small towns grew out of villages. They had markets where people came to sell their goods. The market was called mandi. There were also shops lined in streets. These were called haats. Foodgrains, sugar, jaggery, oil, butter and cloth, etc were bought and sold here. Artisans like metalsmiths, potters and masons occupied different streets. There were local traders while some came from distant places to trade.

The traders and artisans were taxed by the local zamindars or the local temple. Some taxes were collected in cash while others were paid in kind.

 

History Reveals

According to Abul Fazi, in 1594 there were 2837 towns of which 180 were named as larger cities.

 

TYPES OF TOWNS

 

The towns that developed were of the following kinds:

a)  Administrative or Capital towns

b)  Commercial and Port towns

c)  Religious or Temple towns

d)  Founded towns

 

Changing Fortunes of Cities

Some towns prospered and became major commercial centres whereas others suffered a setback. Masulipatnam suffered a setback as European traders set up trading centres at Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. Many towns which were the centres of textile production also declined because their products faced competition from the cheap machine made goods that European traders poured into India. Murshidabad was one such town.

 Some towns served more than one function. For example, a town could be both administrative as well as temple town.

 

Administrative or Capital Towns

Some towns developed because the rulers and their families lived there. The ministers, nobles, soldiers and administrative heads of the kingdom, merchants/ craftsmen etc. also lived in these towns. Thus, these towns had many palaces, market places and good roads. Many of these towns were protected by high walls. Some of th important capital towns were Agra, Lahore and Delhi. These towns had many cultural and educational activities, good civ amenities and were developed because flu were the seat of power.

 

History Reveals

Monserrate, a medieval traveller who visited India stated that Lahore in 1581 was "not second to any city in Europe or Asia". Finch, another medieval traveller found both Agra and Lahore to be much larger than London.

 

Commercial and Port Towns

During the medieval period, trade with foreign countries flourished and many new towns came

 

 

Map No. 6.1 the Growth of new towns during the medieval Period in India

 

Up to encourage trade. Trade and commerce promoted the development of urban centers. Agra, Patna, Allahabad, Jammu, Ajmer, Khandesh, Coromandel and Kanyakumari were great centers of commercial activities.

 

Coastal towns developed intobooming industrial centres with large populations. Medieval India's Arab traveller Ibn Batuta (1333-46) found great cities with rich markets in the north and south.

Some of the important ones were Surat, Cochin, Arikamedu, Masulipatnam and Vishakhapatnam.

 

Religious or Pilgrimage Towns

The temples were very important because they were not only the centres of worship; they served as a sacred meeting place for the society. Protected by kings and widely supported by endowments and other gifts, temples enjoyed dominance as centers of religious life, socio-economic power and artistic production. They gave employment to many people like oil mongers (who supplied oil for the temple lamps), potters, dancers, musicians, cooks, priests, accountants, metal workers, weavers and merchants supplying items like incense, camphor, aromatic wood for rituals. Festivals, fairs and religious discourses were held here. People from distant lands came as pilgrims to temples. These temple towns developed rapidly. Some of them were Tirupati, Madurai, Pushkar, Somnath, Tanjore, Bhilsa in M.P, Kanchipuram, Vrindavan, Tirunmalai and many others. Towns like Haridwar, Banaras and Allahabad developed because they were on the banks of holy rivers. An important Muslim religious town that developed was Ajmer.

 

 

Founded Towns

Many rulers founded new towns for different reasons. The city of Siri was founded by Alauddin Khalji Ghiyasuddin Tughluq founded Tughluqabad.

 

Buland Darwaza at Fateehpur Sikri

 

Ferozeshah Tughluq founded many cities of which Ferozabad and Jahanpanah are well known. Ahmedabad was established by Sultan Ahmed Shah. The first Mughal capital city was established in Delhi in 1526. Humayun constructed Dilli Shershahi. Akbar built an entirely new city at Fatehpur Sikri as a mark of respect to saint Salim Chisti. Later, under Shah Jahan the capital returned to Delhi when Shahjahanabad was built. Muhammad Quit Shah built Hyderabad as his capital.

 

Q. Give two examples of each type of towns described above.

 

TOWNS AND TRADERS

 

TYPES OF TRADERS

India had flourishing trade, both inland and overseas. Trading classes were well organized and highly professional. Foreign trade was in the hands of both local and foreign merchants. Traders formed guilds or associations. The guilds promoted the interests of the traders. Some of the important guilds were Nanadesi and Manigramam.

 

Different communities were known to dominate trade in various parts of the country. The banjaras were a special class of traders and specialised in carrying bulk goods like food grains, pulses, ghee, salt, etc. They traded in caravans and were continuously on the move carrying goods from one place to another. The coastal trade and trade between the coastal ports and north India was in the hands of Marwaris, Gujaratis, baniyas and chettis of peninsular India. The Muslim Bohra merchants also participated in the trade. The overland trade with West Asia was in the hands of Multanis of Punjab, and Khurasanis. Many of these merchants had settled down in Delhi. Arab traders shipped Indian goods to European countries through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean ports. They brought silver and gold from their countries and took back shiploads of handicraft objects from India to the far-east.

 

ITEMS OF TRADE

 

During the early medieval period, India became a hub for foreign trade. Indian exports consisted mainly of manufactured articles, with cotton cloth being the most important item due to its great demand. Indigo, saltpeter, spices, opium, sugar, yarn, salt, beads, borax, lac, sealing wax, and drugs of various kinds were also exported. Silks, gold-embroidered exquisitely designed clay pots and pans, guns, knives, oils, ivory sandalwood, diamonds and other precious gems were the other prime articles of export. The principal imports were horses and luxury goods like raw silk, glassware, coral, amber, precious stones, superior textiles, perfumes, drugs, and European wines. From China raw silk and porcelain were imported.

 

History Reveals

The magnitude of trade can be inferred from the fact that there were 300 ports to facilitate the movement of goods.

 

CRAFTMANSHIP

 

During the medieval period, the craftsmen flourished and handicrafts reached the pinnacle of perfection. Crafts like carpet making and textile weaving were developed into fine arts. The contribution of the Cholas and the Vijayanagar Empire in the field of bronze sculpture, silk weaving and jewelry makin is unmatched. During the Sultanate period Bengal and the towns in Gujarat were famous for their fine quality textiles. Sonargaon in Bengal was famous for raw silk and muslin. Other handicrafts included leather work, metal work, carpet weaving, pottery, jewellery, etc The Turks introduced the manufacture of paper

 

The most impressive achievement of the Mughal Empire was in the field of manufactured goods. They invited skilled craftsmen from all over the world. Brocade and velvet manufacturing developed rapidly. The muslin of Dacca enjoyed an exclusive place for its fine texture and light weight. Fine cloth of different varieties was also produced at Varanasi and Gujarat. Silk fabrics woven at Ahmedabad enjoyed a high reputation. Golconda was famous for its kalamkari work. The Mughals introduced methods like inlay work, glass engraving and enameling, etc. Bidriware and Minakar1 craft were specially appraised. Bidriware was smooth and dark coloured metalwork with intricate designs on glossy surface.

 

Bidriware

 

Minakari

 

THE EMERGENCE OF NEW TOWNS AFTER THE EUROPEAN INFLUENCE

 

Indian goods had been popular in the western countries since centuries. European traders traded with India and reaped huge profits. The most sought after items of trade were Indian spices and textiles. The Europeans formed companies to expand trade with the east. On account of their superior naval skills, these companies controlled the overseas trade to the west. Indian merchants were no competition for them. The English East India Company strongly established a foothold in India. From a trading company, it later became a political power.

 

The increased demand for Indian textiles led to further development of the textile industry. However, the craftpersons now took advance orders and had to weave the designs given to them by the agents of the East India Company. They no longer had the freedom to design their own products.

 

Later, the East India Company established factories at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. The artisans were moved to these cities. The cities were divided into Black Towns and White Towns. The workers had to live in the former while the Europeans lived in the latter.

 

HAMPI

 

The Natural fortress of Vijayanagar

 

Hampi is a small village in northern Karnataka. Once a stretch of uninhabited land, it became capital of the prosperous and mighty Vijayanagara Empire and known for its wealth and grandeur. The ruins of this great kingdom can be seen even today at Hampi which has been declared a protected site by the UNESCO,

 

The Vnijyanagar Kingdom was founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336. The new city came to be known as Vijayanagara?the city of victory. It was protected by the Tungabhadra River in the north and rocky granite ridges the remaining three sides. The river was the lifeline of the empire. Hampi is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara.

 

Harihara and Bukka, laid down the foundations for the efficient administrative system. Bukka founded an innovative2 irrigation system. Under their progressive leadership, the city became rich and a cosmopolitan.

 

Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) was the most outstanding ruler. The kingdom reached its pinnacle of glory during his rule. He was an efficient administrator. He encouraged trade with western countries. Even Moors, the Muslim traders came to Hampi to trade.

 

The Vijayanagar Empire was famous for its rich heritage and beautifully constructed monuments. The kings of Vijayanagara encouraged fine arts and architecture. They made several specimens of exemplary architecture. Local granite and burnt bricks were used in building temples. The city of Hampi is an open museum. It is fortified and the walls are made of interlocking stones without the use of any cementing material. Archeologists have carried out extensive excavations and have discovered numerous artifacts, temples and palaces. The construction style used arches and domes. The palaces had extensive pillared halls.

 

Lotus Mahal

 

Numerous temples have been found in Hampi. Many cultural activities took place in the temples. The temple dancers or devdasis performed here. There are more than 500 monuments that are charismatic even in their ruined state. Some of the monuments are the Virupaksha Temple, Hazers Ramaswami Temple, Vittala Lotus Mahal, Queen's Bath and Elephant Stables. A granite platform is identified as the Mahanavami-dibba (House of Victory).

 

Most important sources of information about the Vijayanagara Empire are the accounts of foreign visitors like Abdur Razaak who was an Arab traveller and Domino Paes from Portugal.

 

The Vijayanagar Empire had a flourishing economy. There were many ports and towns. The capital was a booming business centre. Several coins were introduced during the reign of the rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire. Trade and commerce were carried vigorously which brought about new ideas and changes in the kingdom. Exports included spices, cotton, precious stones, jewels and perfumes. Taxes were levied on all items that were sold. Trade was carried on with China, Persia and Arabia. In 1565, the combined armies of the Muslim Sultanates defeated the Vijayanagar ruler in the Battle of Talikota. Legends indicate that the city of Hampi was so rich that it took several days for its wealth to be looted by the invaders. It subsequently went into terminal decline.

 

Musical pillars

 

SURAT

 

Surat lies on the banks of the Tapti River in Gujarat. Even today, it is the commercial capital of Gujarat. Also referred to as Suryapur, Surat is a blend of many cultures and traditions.

 

The earliest reference of Surat can be traced back to the epic of Mahabharata. According to the popular belief, Surat was the place where Lord Krishna halted with his cows during his trip from Mathura to Dwarka. The impressions of the cow's footprints are still visible at a place popularly called 'Gai Pagli'. Surat has been home to several Hindu kings.

 

The wealth and prosperity of Surat began when the Parsis first moved to the west coast in the 12th century. It became extremely prosperous and trade thrived. In the late 1490s, a Hindu trader settled in Surat. His success attracted many other Hindu merchants who exported spices, silk, muslin and porcelain to China and Sumatra to settle down at Surat. Akbar captured the city in 1573 after a long siege. Arabian traders started calling this place Bunder-e-Khubsoorat (the beautiful port), which later shortened to Surat. It became a vital Mughal port for trade as well as for the hajj to Mecca. It was known as the Gate to Mecca. Manufacturing and trading brought an eclectic mix of ethnicities to Surat, making the growth of the city memorable and its culture unique. 

 

The 17th century view of Surat

 

The Estate of Surat was gifted by Aurangzeb to his sister Jahan Ara in his times. The area where she lived is now known as Begamusadi and Begampura. Surat's strategic position on the century view of Suratimportant sea routes between Europe, India and Arabia attracted Europeans also. Surat became a center of trade and manufacturing. There were cotton mills, and there were special manufactures of silk brocade and gold embroidery, known as Zari. The chief trades from Surat were organized m guilds. There were numerous facilities for the comfort of the traders who came to Surat. There were banking houses to facilitate the exchange of money.

 

The Portuguese were the first, soon followed by the British East India Company in 1608 to reach Surat. There was a tussle between the Portuguese and the British regarding the control of Surat. The British defeated the Portuguese and were the first to establish a factory in their first settlement in India. The city nourished with many spinning and weaving mills and textile factories. Surat remained the British headquarters till 1674. When they developed Mumbai as a major port and trading center, Surat declined. Another reason for its decline was that it lost the local market for its goods as the Mughal dynasty declined. Today/ Surat is renowned for its textile industry. It is also known as the textile capital of India and Manchester of the East.

 

 

 

MASULIPATNAM

 

Masulipatnam, also known as Machilipatnam or Bandar is situated near the Krishna River at the Bay of Bengal, in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is known to exist from the 3rd Century BC. At that time, the city was called as Maisolos and Masalia by the European traders. The city was famous for quality Muslin (a thin-plain weave cotton cloth). The word 'muslin' originated from masalia itself.

 

Machilipatnam derived its name owing to the construction of a gateway to the town decorated with eyes of a fish. Machilipatnam was founded in the 14th century by the trading Arabs who found their way from the Red Sea to southern India to the spot of eastern peninsula. During the colonial rule, the British East India Company established its first trading post on the Coromandel Coast at Masulipatnam during 1611 AD. During 17th century, the port was used for British, French and Dutch trade. The Dutch even built a fort there. There was flourishing sea trade with several nations of Europe, Southeast and Southwest Asia.

 

The Majority of the exports included fine quality muslin cloth, Kalamkari fabrics. Potassium Nitrate, Turmeric, Spices and Diamonds. Also, the city was one of most prominent cities and considered to be a major sea port of Golconda Kingdom. Subsequently, the Emperor of Delhi defeated the Golconda kings and conquered the port. However, the port did not develop further due to natural calamities and wars. During the Carnatic wars, the English were temporarily expelled from the town. The Trading companies established themselves in other port towns like Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. The decline in trade led to the downfall of Masulipatnam.

 

Machilipatnamalamkari is known for its Kalamkari textiles and paintings created using vegetable dyes. As a kalam (pen) is used in the technique of painting, it was called "Kalamkari Painting". During the 17th century, western traders were attracted by this art. It is also famous for its carpet weaving industry. Today, Machilipatnam is in a state of neglect. Modernisation is needed to bring the city back to its glory.

 

Kalamkari Painting

 

Around the world

 

Columbus and Queen Isabella

 

Christopher Columbus was a Portuguese sailor who wanted to reach India and China by sailing westwards. He received help from Queen Isabella of Spain. She gave him money for the voyage and he sailed out with 3 ships in 1492. He reached Cuba and Hispaniola which he thought were a part of India. Due to his mistake, the islands were called West Indies. Columbus made 4 voyages and discovered many islands and reached North America. He never reached India but accidently he discovered the continent of America.