Question

Write a note on the evolution of towns in India.

Answer 1

1. The evolution of towns has occurred in different ways and in different stages in India.
2. They can be classified into ancient towns, medieval towns, and modem towns.
3.  Most of the ancient towns like Harappa. Mohenjodaro, Varanasi, Allahabad, and Madurai developed as administrative, religious, and cultural centers.
4. The medieval towns like Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Agra, and Nagpur developed as headquarters of principalities and kingdoms.
5. The Europeans first developed some coastal towns such as Surat, Daman, Goa, and Pondicherry in modem India.
6. Then the British developed Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta as the administrative headquarters and trading centers.
7. The newly developed towns are known differently as hill towns, industrial towns, court towns, railway station towns, cantonments, and administrative towns.