Class 7 History Notes - Towns, Traders And Craftspersons

Introduction

When a traveller visited a medieval town, what they found would vary based on the type of town it was. Towns in medieval times served different purposes, like being a place of worship (temple town), a hub for governing activities (administrative centre), a marketplace for trade (commercial town), or a port for maritime activities. Often, towns had multiple roles, serving as both administrative centres and places for temples, trade, and craft production.

Some important centres of trade and artisanal production in central and south India. 

Administrative Centres

Temples played a central role in the economy and society, with rulers constructing them to showcase their devotion to various deities. They generously supported temples with grants of land and money for rituals, feeding pilgrims and priests, and organizing festivals. Pilgrims visiting the temples also made donations. 

A Network of Small Towns 

Starting from the 8th century, small towns began to emerge across the subcontinent. These likely originated from larger villages and featured a central marketplace known as mandapika (later called mandi), where local villagers brought their goods for sale. 

These towns also boasted market streets, called hatta (later haat), hosting various shops catering to different trades like pottery, oil pressing, sugar making, and more.

Traders played a pivotal role, with some settling in the towns and others moving between them. Many traders traveled from distant places to these towns, bringing local products and selling items sourced from far-off regions, such as horses, salt, camphor, saffron, betel nut, and spices like pepper.

There were various types of traders, including those dealing with horses called Banjaras. They formed groups, and their leaders talked with warriors interested in buying horses.

Banjaras

• Caravans and Guilds: Traders traveled in groups called caravans to protect themselves while passing through different areas. They also formed guilds, like the Manigramam and Nanadesi, for trading within India and with countries like Southeast Asia and China.

• Trading Communities: Some groups, such as the Chettiars and Marwari Oswal, became the main trading communities. Gujarati traders, including Hindu Baniyas and Muslim Bohras, played a big role in trade with regions like the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and China.
  Marwani business communityThey traded textiles and spices, getting items like gold, ivory, spices, tin, Chinese blue pottery, and silver.

• The west coast towns had traders from different places, like Arab, Persian, Chinese, Jewish, and Syrian Christian traders.

• Indian goods like spices and cloth sold in places like the Red Sea, and Italian traders brought them to European markets. These items became popular in Europe, leading to more European traders coming to India.

• The demand for Indian goods in European markets brought European traders to India. Indian spices and cloth became important in European cooking and fashion, changing how Europeans traded and used goods.

Crafts in Towns 

A Closer Look: Hampi, Masulipatnam and Surat

Hampi, situated in the Krishna-Tungabhadra basin, was the core of the Vijayanagara Empire founded in 1336. The ruins of Hampi showcase a well-fortified city with walls constructed without mortar, utilizing interlocking techniques.

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A Gateway to the West: Surat 

Surat in Gujarat served as a major trading hub during the Mughal period, along with Cambay and Ahmedabad.

The city was a crucial gateway for trade with West Asia through the Gulf of Ormuz, earning the nickname "the gate to Mecca."

Surat was characterized by its cosmopolitan population, encompassing people of various castes and creeds.

During the seventeenth century, the Portuguese, Dutch, and English established factories and warehouses in Surat.

According to Ovington, an English chronicler, around a hundred ships from different countries could be found anchored at the port simultaneously.

Surat's renowned cotton textiles, featuring gold lace borders (zari), had a thriving market in West Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The city had numerous rest-houses to accommodate visitors from across the world, along with magnificent buildings and pleasure parks.

The Kathiawad seths or mahajans (moneychangers) operated significant banking houses in Surat.

The Surat hundis (bills of exchange) held respect in far-off markets like Cairo, Basra, and Antwerp.

Towards the end of the seventeenth century, Surat faced a decline due to factors such as the Mughal Empire's decline, Portuguese control of sea routes, and competition from Bombay (Mumbai).

Despite its historical decline, Surat remains a bustling commercial center today

Fishing in Troubled Waters: Masulipatnam 

Masulipatnam : Fish Port Town