Towns, Traders and Craftspersons — AP Class 7 History
1. About the Chapter
Medieval India was NOT just villages and kings. 'Towns were the ENGINES of the economy — centres of TRADE, CRAFTS, and ADMINISTRATION.' This chapter explores the vibrant world of towns, the traders who connected India to the world, and the craftspersons who made exquisite goods.
Key Themes
- Types of towns and their functions
- Crafts and guild organisation
- Trading communities and trade routes
- Hampi, Surat, and Masulipatnam
- AP: Masulipatnam port and Kalamkari textiles
- Trade with Southeast Asia and Europe
2. Types of Towns in Medieval India
Administrative Towns
- Centres of royal power
- Capital cities with palaces, courts, offices
- Examples: Delhi (Sultanate/Mughal), Vijayanagara (Hampi), Warangal (Kakatiya)
Temple Towns
- Grew around FAMOUS temples
- Pilgrims visited = demand for goods
- Examples: Tirupati (AP), Srisailam (AP), Varanasi, Madurai, Thanjavur
Pilgrimage Towns
- Religious significance
- Combined with trade
- Examples: Puri (Odisha), Somnath (Gujarat), Simhachalam (AP)
Commercial Towns
- Centres of trade and manufacturing
- Port towns (coastal trade) and inland markets
- Examples: Surat (Gujarat), Masulipatnam (AP), Hampi (Vijayanagara), Lahore (Punjab)
Craft Towns
- Specialised in ONE product
- Example: Varanasi (silk). Bidar (bidriware). Masulipatnam (Kalamkari).
3. Crafts and Craftspersons
The World of Crafts
Medieval India was famous for its HANDICRAFTS. 'Every town had its SPECIALITY.'
| Craft | Centre | Speciality |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton textiles | Masulipatnam, Surat | Kalamkari, printed cloth |
| Silk | Varanasi, Mysore | Silk sarees |
| Metalwork | Bidar | Bidri (silver inlay on alloy) |
| Stone carving | Hampi, Thanjavur | Temple sculpture |
| Jewellery | Delhi, Surat | Gold, gems |
Craft Guilds (Shrenis)
- Craftspersons organised into GUILDS (shrenis)
- Guilds SET standards for quality and prices
- Guilds TRAINED new artisans (apprenticeship)
- 'A shreni was like a UNION and a SCHOOL combined'
- Guild leaders were RESPECTED — often served as bankers
AP Crafts
Masulipatnam was famous for Kalamkari — hand-painted or block-printed cotton textiles. 'Kalamkari means PEN-WORK in Persian — artisans used a bamboo PEN to draw intricate designs.' These textiles were exported to SOUTHEAST ASIA and the Middle East.
4. Trading Communities
Major Trading Groups
| Community | Region | Speciality |
|---|---|---|
| Banjaras | North/West India, Deccan | Overland trade. Cattle. |
| Multanis | Multan (Punjab) | Banking, money lending |
| Chettis | Tamil Nadu | Maritime trade. SEA trade. |
| Gujarati merchants | Gujarat | Spices, textiles. Persian Gulf trade. |
| Komati | Andhra/Telangana | Local and regional trade. Famous as BALIJA (Vyapari). |
AP Focus: Komati (Balija) Traders
The Komati community was the DOMINANT trading group in Andhra. 'Komati means 'one who TRADES in GRAIN' — but they traded in EVERYTHING.' They had their own system of ACCOUNTS (khatas) and BANKING (hundis — bills of exchange).
Trade Routes
- Overland: Silk Route (Central Asia). Deccan routes.
- Maritime: Indian Ocean — connected India to SOUTHEAST ASIA, ARABIA, AFRICA.
- 'The INDIAN OCEAN was an INDIAN lake — Indian traders dominated the seas.'
5. Three Famous Towns in Detail
Hampi (Vijayanagara Empire)
'THE most BEAUTIFUL city in medieval India — travellers from Europe and Persia WERE AMAZED.'
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Karnataka (Tungabhadra River) |
| Period | 1336–1565 (Vijayanagara) |
| Fame | Markets, temples (Virupaksha), royal centre |
| Trade | Diamonds, rubies, silk, spices, horses |
| Visitors | Domingo Paes (Portuguese), Abdur Razzaq (Persian) |
| Decline | Destroyed after Battle of Talikota (1565) |
Markets of Hampi: 'Every DAY was MARKET day in Hampi.' Special bazaars: horse market, gem market, cloth market. Goods from all over the world.
Surat (Gujarat)
'The WINDOW of India to the WEST.'
- BUSIEST port of the Mughal empire
- Gateway to Mecca (Haj pilgrimage)
- Famous for: cotton, silk, brocade, gold embroidery
- 'Surat was known as the CITY of GOLD'
- FACTORIES (trading posts) of the English, Dutch, Portuguese
- Decline: When Surat port SILTED up, Bombay became the new hub
Masulipatnam (AP) — The Andhra Port
'Masulipatnam was the EAST COAST'S answer to Surat.'
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Also called | Machilipatnam (Krishna district, AP) |
| Period | 16th–17th centuries (Qutb Shahi, Mughal) |
| Speciality | KALAMKARI textiles — famous in SOUTHEAST ASIA |
| Trade partners | Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Persia, Europe |
| Europeans | Dutch (VOC), English (East India Company) — BOTH had factories |
| Rival | Madras (Chennai) — rose as Masulipatnam declined |
| Decline | Silting of port. Shift of trade to Madras. |
Why Masulipatnam Mattered:
- Only major port on the Coromandel Coast
- Gateway for Golconda's DIAMONDS
- Kalamkari and chintz (printed cotton) were EXPORT HITS
- 'A SINGLE piece of Masulipatnam cloth could buy a HOUSE in Indonesia'
6. Trade with Southeast Asia
India and Southeast Asia — A Thousand-Year Connection
'Indian traders, priests, and artisans CROSSED the ocean for centuries — carrying CULTURE as well as GOODS.'
| Item | Exported from India | Imported to India |
|---|---|---|
| Textiles | Cotton, silk | — |
| Spices | Pepper, cardamom | Cloves, nutmeg (Moluccas) |
| Precious stones | Diamonds (Golconda) | Rubies (Myanmar) |
| Cultural | Hinduism, Buddhism, Ramayana | — |
AP's Role
Masulipatnam's Kalamkari textiles were DEEPLY valued in SOUTHEAST ASIA. 'Kalamkari was STATUS SYMBOL in Indonesian courts.' The Ramayana and Mahabharata stories printed on cloth were used in JAVANESE and BALINESE rituals.
7. European Traders in India
The Competition
| Company | Country | Arrival | AP Presence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | Portugal | 1498 (Vasco da Gama) | Limited |
| VOC | Netherlands | 1602 | Masulipatnam factory (1605) |
| EIC | England | 1600 | Masulipatnam factory (1611) |
| French | France | 1664 | Yanam (AP) |
How Europeans Traded
- Established FACTORIES (warehouses + offices)
- Bought Indian textiles cheap
- Sold them in Europe at HUGE profits
- Used FORCE and POLITICAL influence
- 'The Europeans came as TRADERS but stayed as RULERS'
8. Comparison Table: Surat vs. Masulipatnam
| Aspect | Surat | Masulipatnam |
|---|---|---|
| Coast | West (Arabian Sea) | East (Bay of Bengal) |
| Ruler at peak | Mughals | Qutb Shahis |
| Main export | Cotton, silk, brocade | Kalamkari, chintz, diamonds |
| European factories | English, Dutch, French | Dutch, English |
| Trade direction | West (Persia, Europe, Africa) | East (Southeast Asia) |
| Decline reason | Port silted + Bombay rose | Port silted + Madras rose |
9. Key Facts and Dates
- 1336: Vijayanagara founded (Hampi flourished)
- 1498: Vasco da Gama reaches India (sea route)
- 1565: Battle of Talikota — Hampi destroyed
- 1600: English East India Company formed
- 1602: Dutch VOC formed
- 1605: Dutch factory at Masulipatnam
- 1611: English factory at Masulipatnam
- 17th century: Masulipatnam at its PEAK
10. Common Mistakes
- Thinking all medieval towns were the same — Towns had DIFFERENT functions (admin, temple, trade, craft).
- Forgetting that Masulipatnam was an AP port — It is in Krishna district, not Telangana.
- Confusing Kalamkari with block print — Kalamkari is HAND-PAINTED using a pen. Block print uses a wooden block.
- Believing Hampi was only a religious centre — It was a HUGE commercial city with world-famous markets.
- Thinking European trade was 'equal' — Europeans used FORCE and later COLONISED India.
11. Exam Focus
2 Marks
Q: Name two types of medieval towns. A: Temple towns and commercial towns. (Also: administrative, pilgrimage, craft towns.)
Q: What is Kalamkari? A: A hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile from Masulipatnam (AP).
4 Marks
Q: Why was Masulipatnam an important port in medieval India? A: Masulipatnam was the MAJOR port on the Coromandel Coast. It exported Kalamkari textiles, Golconda diamonds, and chintz to Southeast Asia (Burma, Thailand, Indonesia). Both the Dutch and English had trading factories here. It connected the Andhra region to GLOBAL trade networks.
6 Marks
Q: Compare the three major towns of medieval India — Hampi, Surat, and Masulipatnam. A: Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagara — a temple and commercial centre with world-famous markets. Surat was the Mughal empire's busiest WEST coast port, trading with Europe and the Middle East. Masulipatnam was the EAST coast port of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, famous for Kalamkari exports to Southeast Asia. Hampi fell in 1565. Surat and Masulipatnam declined due to port silting and the rise of Bombay and Madras.
12. Quick Self-Test
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What is a 'shreni'? Answer: A craft guild — set quality standards and trained new artisans.
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Which AP town is famous for Kalamkari? Answer: Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam)
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Who built Hampi? Answer: Vijayanagara rulers
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Which European company first established a factory in Masulipatnam? Answer: Dutch VOC (1605)
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What caused Hampi's destruction? Answer: Battle of Talikota (1565)
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What is a 'hundi'? Answer: A bill of exchange used by Indian traders.
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Which town was called the 'City of Gold'? Answer: Surat
-
Name the main trading community of Andhra in medieval times. Answer: Komati (Balija/Vyapari)
13. Conclusion
'Towns, traders, and craftspersons — THE connective tissue of the medieval world.' India's towns were vibrant centres of production, exchange, and culture. AP's Masulipatnam connected the region to Southeast Asia through its famous Kalamkari textiles. The arrival of European traders marked the BEGINNING of a new era — one that would eventually lead to colonial rule.
Key takeaways:
- Medieval towns had varied functions (temple, admin, trade, craft)
- Shrenis (guilds) organised craft production
- Hampi, Surat, and Masulipatnam were among the most famous towns
- Masulipatnam was AP's GATEWAY to Southeast Asian trade
- Kalamkari textiles were world-famous
- European companies entered India through these very towns
