Chapter - 6

Towns traders and craftsmen

A. Choose the correct answer and fill in the blanks :-

1. administrative town
2. Guilds
3. religious centre
4. Horses, dryfruits , glassware and silk
5. Cotton and spice
B. State whether true or false if false correct the statement
1. T
2. T
3. F (located in Karnataka)
4. F
5. T

D. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words

1. Why was Surat called the gate of Mecca?

Ans:- Surat was called the gate of Mecca because pilgrims from Mecca come to Surat,

2. what necessitated the employment of a large number of priest and innkeepers at the temple town?

Ans,:-A large number of pilgrims visited the temples during the festivals which necessitated the
employment of a large number of priest, innkeeper fruit seller etc.

3. Name any two important trading towns of the mediaeval period.

Ans: Masulipatnam and Surat

4. Who founded the city of masulipatnam and when ?

Ans:- The city was founded in the 14th century by Arab traders.
 C. Answer the following questions 50 to 70 words:-
1. Differentiate between the three different types of towns in the mediaeval period.

Ans :- Towns were of three types. – administrative or court towns , pilgrimage towns and
trading or port towns.

Temple towns grew around the huge complexes. They organised various cultural festivals
and occasions .

Administrative town- The town that grew as the capital of the kingdom and encompassed the offices
and meeting places of the king.

Commercial towns where associated with trading and exporting goods.

2.which were the countries that carried out trade with India during the mediaeval period.

Ans:- India had maritime trade with Southeast Asia, and China , Arab were the dominant
partner in Indian ocean trade. Traders from Arabia, Turkey Syria and Europe traded with
Indian merchant communities such as Baniyas and Bohras.

3. Write a note on any one of the important trading centre.

Ans:- Surat is a port city located in Gujarat, in 13th century it emerged as a trading town. It
was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the gulf of Ormuz. It was famous for its Cosmopolitan
characters and its zari bordered cotton textile which had a ready market in West Asia, Africa and
Europe. It was also called the gate of Mecca as many ships sailed for pilgrimage from there.

F. Answer the following questions in 80-100 words,:-

1. Name the countries that India traded with during the mediaeval period. Mention important
items that were imported and exported.

Ans:- In the luxury sector silk weaving expanded and carpet weaving came from Persia . The Other
notable urban manufacturing activities was papermaking. Perhaps some major sector of urban
employment was the building industry. That talks and the Mughals introduced and popularized a
number of new crafts and techniques like making of iron stirrup and armour for the cavalry as
opposed to other types of trading towns developed around such manufacturing centres. Many
systems also give as a result of the products found in that region both agricultural and manufactured
or because of its approximately two ports and major trade routes masulipatnam and Surat very
important trading towns of the mediaeval period.

2. Trace the history of masulipatnam as a centre of trade during the mediaeval period

Ans:- The city was founded in the 14th century by Arab traders and it was an important mediaeval
port. As early as the period of the sudden as it was an important port city. The city was captured by
Narsimha of the Vijayanagar Empire after defeating the gajapati of Odisha. The place Rose into
prominence in the 17th century because the Europeans wanted to trade with India and the
Southeast Asian countries. In 1605 the Dutch opened negotiations with Golconda and established
factories at masulipatnam. Very soon the English also set up their centres at masulipatnam. In 1686
 the Dutch seized the town but because of the Farman of the Mughal emperor the English were
allowed to reopen their factories letter masulipatnam was captured by the French but soon it was
passed to the British

3. Hampi was chosen as a capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom due to its strategic location for stop
explain

Ans'- chosen as the capital because of its strategic location it was not only bounded by The river
Tungabhadra, but also had the advantage of being surrounded by place on three sides .to add to its
advantages, the city was also an important centre of cotton and spice trade. Hampi, in the 15th and 16th
centuries was strong by the the Muslim merchants former cities and European traders like the
Portuguese