Question

What were the factors which facilitated urbanization?

Answer 1

1. The cities and towns fulfilled diverse and overlapping roles in the economy.
2. The large cities were centres of manufacturing and marketing, banking and financial services.
3. They were usually located at the intersection of an extensive network of roads.
4. The roads connected them to other parts of the country.
5. Smaller towns were marketing centres in local trade connecting the immediate rural hinterland.
6. Cities also served as political and administrative centres.
7. Major pilgrimage centres like Varanasi also grew into cities, because the regular inflow of pilgrims.
8. All these factors together contributed urbanization.