With the growth of new towns, trade, and empires between the 7th and the 17th centuries, new ideas developed and different groups of people worshipped different gods and goddesses. Muslims, for example, believed in Allah, and Christians believed in Jesus. Which idea became widely accepted during that time?
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1. Introduction
Objectives
Overview
2. Key Concepts
Different Towns
Large Villages Become Small Towns
Different Traders
Different Towns, Different Crafts
Regional Development
New Towns and Traders
3. Check your understanding
Quiz
4. Did You Know?
Interesting Facts
Dateline
Classroom Activities
Finish Lesson
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Chapter 6 - Towns, Traders And Craftspersons
Our Pasts - II
Regional Development
Hampi: An Architectural Splendour
Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka. It was located in the ruins of the city of Vijayanagara (once the capital of the the Vijayanagara Empire).
By archeological findings, we know that the city was well fortified but no cementing material was used for binding the bricks or stones, rather they were wedged together by interlocking.
The architecture in there was splendid, consisting of the royal buildings with arches, domes, pillared halls, sculptures, well-designed gardens and orchards.
In the 15th and the 16th centuries, Hampi became the centre for various cultural and commercial activities. The markets consisted of traders such as Moors (name used for muslim merchants), the Chettis and the Portuguese.
The cultural activities included celebration of various festivals such as Mahanavami (known as Navaratri now in the sothern part of India), one of the most important festivals of Hampi. Temples became the centre for not only worship but also for the development of various religious and cultural traditions such as that of 'devadasis' (the temple dancers).
Archaeologists have also found the Mahanavami platform, that the kings used to hold meetings and from where they watched various music and dance performances and wrestling matches.
Inspite of all these developments, Hampi, the cultural capital, started deteriorating after the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, as it was defeated by the Deccani Sultans- rulers of the Golconda, Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Berar and Bidar.
Surat and Trade
The city of Surat was cosmopolitan as people of all castes and creeds lived there. During the Mughal period, Surat, Cambay (present day Khambhat) and later Ahmedabad carried out trade with the west.
It was also called the gate to Mecca as the pilgrim ships set sail from here.
In the 17th century, the Protuguese, the Dutch and the English set up their factories and warehouses in Surat. Textile industry of Surat has been famous for its Zari Work (intricate art of weaving threads of fine gold and silver) and has a market in West asia, Africe and Europe.
Architecture of the city included magnificent buildings, many rest houses, pleasure parks, huge banking houses (set up by Kathiawad seths or Mahajans). The 'hundis' (financial instrument developed in the medieval times for use in trade and credit transactions) of Surat were honoured in markets of Cairo in Egypt, Basra in Iraq, and Antwerp in Belgium.
Towards the end of the 17th century, Surat began to decline as the trade capital because of many reasons like the decline of the Mughal Empire and resulting in the loss of markets and productivity, control over the sea routes by the Portuguese and competition from Bombay (present day Mumbai) as the East India Company shifted its headquarters there in 1668. However, Surat is a bustling commercial centre of Gujarat today.
Masulipatnam