Medieval Towns and Cities

Medieval towns and villages are referred to as those landmarks which were established either pre colonisation by the kings or rulers to facilitate living in a more comforting manner. The medieval time in India started from the 8th century and continued till the 18th century. During this time frame, India went through some serious political, economic, social, cultural, and infrastructure-wise. 

Medieval town categories

These medieval towns were divided into three main categories: administrative towns, temple towns, commercial activities, and craft production centres. This was the age when art and culture were at their peak, and India was talked about all around the globe. The kings or rulers were great leaders with a progressive mindset. During this age of kings, India experienced a massive change in social, cultural, and economic advancements. 

• Administrative towns 
• Temple towns 
• Centres for commercial activities by the residents 

Administrative Towns

These town setups were king centric, and most of the chores that took place were also directly related to the ruler or the administrator. The administrative towns were medieval towns formed for meetings, hearings, kings’ activities, and proceedings. The administrative towns were generally the kingdom’s capital. They were regarded as prestigious and the core for any important meetings and office structure.

An example of a medieval administrative town would be Thanjavur. This town was the epicentre for everything, and it was the capital for the Chola Dynasty ruled by Rajaraja Chola. This place could be regarded as the epitome of sophistication and was decorated with many pavilions or mandaps, like a colourful canopy. 

The town Thanjavur was one such medieval town surrounded by temples. This town and its temple were decorated especially by the flags woven by the Saliya weavers of Thanjavur. This was the phase of the textile boom. 

Temple Towns and Pilgrim Centre

Thanjavur is an excellent example of Temple towns as well. Temple towns are those that are built near the vicinity of the temple. The temple built in Thanjavur was named Rajarajeshwara by the famous architect Rajaraja Perunthachchan. The architect has also carved his name on the walls. It is defined for its beauty and carnations. During this age, temples were like the centre of urbanisation because of the commerce near their vicinity. After this temple was built, the other town temples and pilgrim sites came into existence. This place is regarded as the beauty of the Thanjavur town; the temples were one such place that was regarded very pious by all the residents and the ruler as well. 

The main reason they were built was to showcase the ruler’s devotional sentiments for the god. The temples received huge sums of grants and gifts from the visitors and pilgrims, which in return was used to feed the hungry, the pandits and sometimes even used for the celebrations that took place in the town. Many other such towns that came into existence as temple towns were Bhilasa or Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, Somnath in Gujarat, Kanchipuram and Madurai in Tamil Nadu Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The pilgrim centres were later developed in townships, and the examples for those are Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh and Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. 

Commercial Centres for Craft and Production

The medieval towns were also known for their astonishing commercial centres, a step towards urbanisation and modernism. These commercial centres were regarded as mandis or the centre for interaction for people. This was the age when many local craftsmen and traders came into the picture, and thus a need for centres for trade and commerce became an important framework. These craftsmen and traders had a major role in the town’s planning and building. 

Major Medieval Towns in India

• Hampi –The centre of the Vijaynagar empire is constructed with domes and pillars. It has been the main centre because of its excellent architecture and walls and scriptures with a unique interlock
• Surat – Surat was known for its textile industries in the medieval age, and even today, it continues to be the most popular place for textiles especially
• Masulipatnam – It had the major attention of the Dutch and was even built by them. It had the sole distributorship for textile and spices, making this medieval city an attractive and desired space

Conclusion

This article discussed the history of medieval India and the towns and cities that were the foundation behind urbanisation and modernism. Other than this, the medieval towns were the first place where the administration, temples and markets for commerce were all located in a single or same space. This acted as a means of interaction and showcased us a  certain level of town planning skills that the then residents had.