Question

write a summary significance of surat of port and city of trades and crafts in medivial

Answer 1

Surat became the emporium of India, exporting gold and cloth. Its major industries were shipbuilding and textile manufacture.[20] The coast of the Tapti River, from Athwalines to Dumas, was specially meant for shipbuilders, who were usually Rassis.[10] The city continued to be prosperous until the rise of Bombay (present-day Mumbai). Afterwards, Surat's shipbuilding industry declined and Surat itself gradually declined throughout the 18th century.[20][10] Between 1790-1, an epidemic killed 100,000 Gujaratis in Surat.[22] The British and Dutch both claimed control of the city, but in 1800, the British took control of Surat.[20][10]

By the middle of the 19th century, Surat had become a stagnant city with about 80,000 inhabitants. When India's railways opened, the city started becoming prosperous again. Silks, cottons, brocades, and objects of gold and silver from Surat became famous and the ancient art of manufacturing fine muslin was revived.[20]

Answer 2

The importance of Surat as a port city of trade and craft:

• Surat, in Gujarat, is situated on the bank of River Tapti. It was an important port and trading town during the medieval period.

• Surat was a commercial town. According to Duarte Barbosa, ships from many countries docked at Surat.

• During the reign of the Mughals, Surat became a very important commercial city, famous for all types of textiles, particularly cotton textiles. Fine cotton with ‘Zari’ borders were produced by the craftsmen. These were exported to the markets in West Asia and Europe.

• The English set up a trading post in Surat in 1612. They were followed by the Dutch and the French

• The location of Surat also helped it to prosper. Ships carrying Haj pilgrims to Mecca set sail from here.

• Realizing its importance, the Portuguese merchants tried to control trade in Surat.

• Surat enjoyed great prosperity between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Shivaji plundered it twice, in 1664 and 1670.

• With the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of Bombay (now Mumbai) as a major port and administrative centre, Surat declined in importance. Today Surat is a major centre of diamond trade.

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