IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D - Rise of Urban Centres

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D

Rise of Urban Centres

Structure

15.0. Objectives
15.1 Introduction
15.2 What is an Urban Centre?
15.3 The Background to the Sixth Century B.C.
15.4 Cities of the Sixth Century B.C.
15.4.1 Types of Cities and Towns in Literature
15.4.2 The Image of City in Ancient India
15.4.3 A Walk through the City
15.4.4 Items of Exchange
15.5 The City in Archaeology
15.6 Let Us Sum Up
15.7 Key Words
15.8 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

15.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this unit you will :

discover the real meaning of an urban settlement and distinguish it from rural centres,
learn the main factors which led to urbanisation during the sixth century B.C.,
know what kind of cities existed at that time, and
be able to list various features of city life in sixth century B.C.

15.1 INTRODUCTION

The period starting with the sixth century B.C. saw the emergence of cities in ancient India
for the second time, This urbanisation was more significant in the sense that it endured for a
longer time and it iaw the beginnings of a literate tradition. This tradition embodied in
Buddhism, Jainism and many important strands of Hinduism looks back on this period as its
formative epoch. The contemporary literature is full of references to cities like Rajagriha,
Sravasti, Kashi, etc. The Buddha and Mahavira were preaching to urban audiences most of
the time.
After the end of the Indus cities, settled agricultural villagers and wandering people
inhabited the plains of India. Small village settlements with humble dwellings dotted the
landscape of the country. All this was undisturbed by the din and bustle of market places
and the domination of kings and merchants. You must have heard the story of King
Harishchandra famous for his truthfulness and keeping his vows. Here is the earliest version
of his story from a text called the Aitareya Brahmana. This text can roughly be dated to
the 8th-7th century B.C.
Thus goes the story-King Harishchandra did not have a son. He went upto god Varuna and
prayed, "Let a son be born to me, with him let me sacrifice to thee."
To him a son was born Rohita by name. Varuna demanded his sacrifice. The king made
various kinds of excuses and kept postponing the sacrifice. However, when Rohit grew up
Harishchandra told him, "0 my dear one, this one (Varuna) gave thee to me. Come let me
sacrifice to him with thee." "No", he said and taking his bow went to the wild and for a year
he wandered in the wild.
Varuna was angry and as such Harishchandra was inflicted with dropsy. Rohita heard of
this and decided to go back from the wild to his village. Six times he started for the village
and six times he was pursuaded by Indra to go back to the wild.