Towns, Traders and Craftsmen Chapter Notes | History Class 7 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

During the medieval period, various types of towns emerged across India, each serving unique roles. Some were centers of administration, others focused on religion, trade, or crafts. These towns, such as capital cities, temple towns, pilgrimage centers, and port towns, played vital roles in the economy, society, and governance. This chapter explores the development, functions, and significance of these towns, along with the contributions of traders, artisans, and craftsmen, and includes case studies of Hampi, Surat, and Masulipatnam.

Capital Towns or Administrative Centres

• Towns where rulers held court became administrative hubs
• Examples include Delhi, Agra, Lahore, Thanjavur, and Hampi
• Some rulers built new capital towns, like Fatehpur Sikri by Akbar
• These towns managed governance and regional control

The Capital City of Delhi

• Delhi, over 3,000 years old, was a key administrative center
• Its location made it a gateway for travelers, traders, and invaders
• Positioned near the watershed of rivers, it had a natural advantage
• Grew as a cluster of cities built by different rulers over time
• Key urban centers: Mehrauli, Siri, Tughlaqabad, Ferozabad, and Purana Qila
• In the 17th century, Shah Jahan built Shahjahanabad, known as Nai (New) Dehli
• In 1931, British inaugurated New Delhi, turning Nai Dehli into Old Delhi

Cities

• Cities like Lahore, Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, and Allahabad (now Prayagraj) thrived
• Had a strong Islamic influence with palace-forts, mosques, tombs, and bazaars
• Towns varied in size: qasbas (small market villages), parganas (district headquarters), and imperial towns like Agra and Delhi

Small Towns

• Small towns often grew from large villages, starting from the 8th century
• Had open public spaces for villagers to sell produce
• Included areas for craftsmen like potters, stonemasons, oil pressers, and ironsmiths
• Some traders lived in towns, others traveled to buy and sell goods
• Local zamindars or temple authorities collected taxes on trade and markets

Temple Towns and Pilgrimage Centres

• Many temple towns and pilgrimage centers became urban hubs
• Trade and crafts grew due to large populations visiting these places
• Temples were key to the economy and society
• Rulers and devotees donated land and money to temples
• Temples funded rituals, festivals, trade, and banking
• Supported priests, artisans, workers, and traders near temples
• Examples: Thanjavur, Kanchipuram, Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Somnath (Gujarat), Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh)
• Pilgrimage centers: Varanasi, Vrindavan, Mathura, Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh
• Ajmer in Rajasthan was both a religious and administrative center
• Ajmer’s dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti made it a pilgrimage hub
• Pushkar Lake near Ajmer attracted pilgrims since ancient times

Port Towns

• Important port towns: Cambay, Surat, Bharuch (Gujarat), Masulipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Cochin, Calicut (Kerala)
• Cambay was a rich trading center in the 14th century
• Famous for cutting agates into beads, knife handles, and cups
• Shipbuilding industry added revenue to port towns
• India built all ships needed for trade until the early 17th century

Craft Towns

• Some towns specialized in specific crafts
• Bidar (Karnataka) known for bidri, inlay work in copper and silver
• Patan (Gujarat) famous for dyeing techniques
• Murshidabad (West Bengal) a center for various silks
• Bayana known for indigo production
• Khairabad (Awadh) recognized for textiles
• Chola artisans excelled in creating fine bronze images

Founded Towns

• New towns emerged during the Mughal period
• Jagirdars, with emperor support, founded towns
• Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh) founded by Diler Khan and Bahadur Khan with Shah Jahan’s help
• Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) established by Prince Murad, Shah Jahan’s son
• Farukhabad and Ghaziabad founded in the 18th century
• Fatehpur Sikri built by Akbar to honor Sufi saint Salim Chishti
• Also built to celebrate Akbar’s victory over Gujarat (Fateh means victory)
• People were sometimes forcibly settled or offered concessions to move
• Others moved to new towns for better opportunities

Traders, Artisans and Craftsmen

• Traders varied: small ones dealt in limited goods, rich ones traded diverse items
• Some wealthy traders owned large fleets for overseas trade
• Banjaras traveled long distances in ox-drawn cart caravans
• Local trade included food, cotton, and indigo for manufacturing
• Traders formed guilds like Manigramam and Nanadesi in south India
• Trading groups: Hindu Baniyas, Jains, Muslim merchants, Arabs, Afghans, Multanis, Khatris, and grain merchants
• Notable traders: Virji Vora, Abdul Gafoor (owned ship fleets), and Malaya Chetti

Foreign Trade

• Indian traders connected with Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa, South-East Asia, and China
• Main exports: spices, textiles, rice, and precious stones
• Imports: silver, tin from South-East Asia, and quality horses from Persia
• West coast towns hosted Arab, Chinese, Jewish, and Syrian Christian traders
• Indian goods sold in Red Sea ports reached Europe via Italian traders
• Hundis (bills of exchange) aided long-distance trade
• Hundis recorded deposits, allowing traders to claim money at destinations

Artisans and Craftsmen

• Two types: rural artisans (part-time, e.g., oil-pressing, sugar making) and professional artisans (e.g., sculptors, weavers)
• Merchants controlled professional artisans as trade grew
• Demand for textiles increased crafts like spinning, weaving, and dyeing
• Artisans worked in karkhanas (workshops) for royal buildings and temples
• Karkhanas produced goods only for the king and royal household
• Prosperous communities: Saliyar/Kaikkolars (weavers) donated to temples
• Panchalas/Vishwakarma community (goldsmiths, bronzesmiths, blacksmiths, masons, carpenters) built temples and palaces

Fact File

• Malabar (Kerala) known for colored and printed cloth
• Textile centers in south: Golconda, Shaliat, and Pulicat
• Shaliat and Pulicat traded various cottons
• Golconda famous for Kalamkaris, painted cotton with Hindu mythology motifs
• Kalamkaris exported via Masulipatnam port

Case Study: Hampi

• Hampi, capital of Vijayanagara Empire (City of Victory), founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka
• A major south Indian kingdom from 1336-1565, peaked under Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529)
• Located on Tungabhadra river in Karnataka
• Chosen for natural barriers: river on one side, cliffs on others
• Well-fortified city, walls built without cement, using interlocking technique
• Ruins show palaces with arches, domes, and pillared halls with sculpture niches
• Key temples: Virupaksha and Vittalaswami
• Had irrigation channels, schools, roads, bridges, and carved temples
• Rulers built tanks and canals, e.g., Anantraj Sagar on Maldevi river
• Krishnadeva Raya made a lake for irrigation via aqueducts and channels
• King led the state, advised by ministers
• Kingdom split into provinces managed by royal princes
• Governors collected taxes for the king
• Military chiefs provided soldiers, trained at a military school
• Most people lived in villages, growing grains, pulses, ginger, fruits, and areca nuts
• Hampi was a key center for cotton and spice trade
• Attracted Moors, Chettis, and Portuguese agents in the 15th and 16th centuries
• Foreign travelers: Abdur Razzaq (Persian), Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz (Portuguese), Nicolo Conti (Italian)
• Declined after Battle of Talikota in 1565, lost to Deccani sultans

Surat

• Surat, on Tapti river in Gujarat, was a key Mughal trading port
• Fertile land supported production of exportable goods
• Main trade gateway to the west during Mughal times
• Hundreds of ships from various countries anchored there
• River location boosted merchant and banking communities
• Gained religious importance as a departure point for Mecca pilgrims
• Famous for textiles with gold lace borders (zari), exported to West Asia, Africa, and Europe
• Also exported indigo, sugar, and other goods
• Kathiawad seths (moneychangers) had large banking houses
• Surat’s hundis honored in Cairo, Basra, and Antwerp
• Portuguese, Dutch, British, and French had trading posts
• Faced competition from local Surat traders
• Prosperity declined by late 17th century due to Mughal decline
• Maratha attacks in 1723 worsened conditions
• British and Dutch took over trade, Bombay became the main port

Masulipatnam

• Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam), meaning ‘fish port town,’ on Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh
• Named after its fish-eye-decorated gateway
• Bustling in the 17th century due to Dutch, French, and British trade
• Main port of Golconda Empire
• Iranians in Golconda invested in shipbuilding and maritime trade
• Large settlement of weavers, dyers, and cloth painters grew nearby
• Famous in Europe for dyed cotton cloth (chintz)
• Kalamkari cloth: cotton or silk painted with natural dyes using a bamboo pen
• Golconda mines produced large diamonds and rubies, enriching the city
• Qutub Shahi rulers set monopolies on textiles, spices, and other goods
• Competition among Golconda nobles, European traders, Persians, and Telugu Chettis
• Mughal agent mir Jumla pitted Dutch and English against each other
• Annexed by Aurangzeb around 1686-1687
• Lost importance as Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras grew as trade posts
• Declined in the 18th century, now a small town

Point to Remember

• Medieval India saw growth of capital, temple, pilgrimage, and port towns
• Administrative centers: Delhi, Agra, Thanjavur, Hampi
• Temple towns: Thanjavur, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Tirupati, Somnath, Vidisha
• Pilgrimage centers: Varanasi, Vrindavan, Mathura, Allahabad (now Prayagraj)
• Port towns: Cambay, Surat, Bharuch, Masulipatnam, Cochin, Calicut
• Traders formed guilds like Manigramam and Nanadesi for protection
• Trade with Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa, South-East Asia, and China
• Exported spices, textiles; imported silver, tin, and horses
• Hundis aided long-distance trade
• Panchalas/Vishwakarma community built temples and palaces
• Hampi thrived in cotton and spice trade, declined after 1565 battle
• Surat, a major port, known for zari textiles and banking
• Masulipatnam famous for dyed cotton, declined in 18th century