Give a detailed account of the process of urbanization in the Bronze Age civilizations.
The first phase of urbanization is represented by the planned cities of the Bronze-age Harappan civilization from the 4th to 2nd millennium BCE. the increase of towns within the Indus zone was supported agricultural surplus, the making of bronze tools, various other crafts and widespread trade and commerce. the most features of the Harappan cities were the increase within the density of population, close integration of economic and social processes, careful planning for urban expansion, flourishing of several crafts, growth of trade and commerce, and scope for artisans and craftsmen. Some scholars have termed the increase of Harappan civilization as an urban revolution that was possibly supported a robust centralized political authority, specialized economic organization and also socio-cultural unity. Planned lay-out of streets, large-scale system and powerful citadels were the features indicating a robust government. These traits, in totality, Give a detailed account of the process of urbanization in the Bronze Age civilizations. helped within the first urbanization in India. Although this culture was confined to the Indus region and therefore the major a part of the subcontinent remained unaffected by this urbanism, because it left no legacy beyond the center of the 2ndmillennium BCE.
The second phase of urbanization spanned from around 6th century BCE to the top of 3rd century CE, within the area in and round the middle Gangetic plains. The towns during this phase were distinguished by crafts and commerce and reached their height of prosperity within the period between 2nd century BCE and 3rdcentury CE (Sharma, 1987, 178). This phase witnessed stages of internal growth and horizontal expansion of cities which was reflected within the distribution of two elements: multifunctional syllabary and coinage (Chattopadhyaya 1994, 159). the rise in craft production, local and long-distance trade costly goods and therefore the availability of agricultural produce from the hinterland boosted urbanization within the post-Maurya times.Give a detailed account of the process of urbanization in the Bronze Age civilizations. There was also a huge expansion of trade networks during this phase when India’s contact with Central Asia and Roman world reached its saturation (Sharma, 1987, 178). This phase also had an impression on peninsular India thanks to spread of trade and commercial activities within the Ganga valley. At this point , south India, too, witnessed the impact of maritime trade with the Roman world. In peninsular India, this phase represents the primary phase of urbanization.
After this boom there was a decline in two phases. Several causes are given for the primary phase of urban decay that happened between the last half of 3rd century and 4th century CE. Firstly, the decline of the many urban centres coincided with the autumn of two great kingdoms and therefore the end of Indo-Roman trade. Secondly, the long-distance trade between the Romans, Chinese, Parthians, Kusanas and Satavahanas declined during the late 3rd century and 4th century CE. Archeological excavations of several sites show evidence of what Sharma termed as ‘urban decay’. This decline in trade led to a loss of income for the state, merchants, artisans et al. . the following social crisis during 3rd and 4th centuries CE, described because the ‘Kali Age’ within the Puranas, was manifest within the stoppage of the flow of taxes from the countryside and internal revolts in towns. Give a detailed account of the process of urbanization in the Bronze Age civilizations. Sharma points out that the second phase of urban decay came after the 6th century CE and coincided with the decline of the Gupta empire. During this era , many important towns of the center Gangetic plains declined, a fact also corroborated by the account of Husan Tsang. Further, the Buddhist texts also give less attention to traders and craftsmen, confirming the phenomenon of de-urbanization. The second phase of urban decay was also linked with the decline of long-distance trade between India and therefore the Byzantine Empire on the one hand and South-East Asia on the opposite .