Mahajanapada Period:

Que. Discuss the factors that played an important role in the process of urbanisation after the Later Vedic Period. [UPSC CSE-2020]

Approach:

(1) Explain the rise of second urbanisation.

(2) Mention the factors that played an important role in the process of urbanisation.

(3) Conclude on balanced footing.

Introduction:

There began the second urbanization in India in the 6th century BC. The Harappan towns finally disappeared in about 1500 B.C. After that for about 1.000 years we do not find any towns in India. With the appearance of towns in the middle Gangatic basin in the sixth century B.C., a second urbanization began in India.

The picture of material life in north India, especially in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, can be drawn on the basis of the Pali texts and the Sanskrit Sutra literature in combination with archaeological evidence. Archaeologically the sixth century B.C. parks the beginning of the NBPW phase. This phase also saw the beginning of metallic money, wider use on Iron implements and the use of burnt bricks and ringwells.

Many towns mentioned in the Pali and Sanskrit texts such as Kausambi, Sravasti, Ayodhya, Kapilavastu, Varanasi, Vaishali, Rajgir, Pataliputra, Champa have been excavated, and in each case signs of habitation and mud structures belonging to the advent of the NBPW phase or its middle have been found.

Factors that played an important role in the process of urbanisation:

Political Factors:

(1) Mahajanapadas: The rise of big territorial powers in 6th century BC onward provided a physical place for growth of urban centres. Administrative Centres and Capitals of 16 Mahajanapadas such as Rajgriha, Sravasti, and Ujjain etc. acted as the base of the 2nd period of urbanisation in India.

(2) Political Patronage: The patronage given by the political class to heterodox sects such as Buddhism and Jainism provided for peaceful society and growth of new classes such as Sethis and Gahapatis which promoted the process of urbanisation.

Social Factors:

(1) Towns of Religion: The religion played an important role in the urbanization in the Gangetic plain. In the 6th century B.C. people had worship places in only a few places. There used to be big gatherings with people coming from distant places. Gradually, these religious places saw the emergence of towns. Vaishali was one of such towns to grow out of religious importance.

(2) Increase in population: Structures excavated so far are generally unimpressive, but together with the other material remains they indicate great increase in population when compared with the Painted Gray Ware settlements. In urban centres there was a greater concentration of people than in the villages. There were more alternative sources of livelihood and more products were available for their use.

(3) Use of writing: Writing led to the compilation of not only laws and rituals but also facilitated book-keeping, which was so essential to trade, tax-collection, and the keeping of a large professional army. The period produced texts dealing with sophisticated measurement (Sulvasutras), which presuppose writing and which may have helped the demarcation of fields and houses.

Economic Factors:

(1) Agriculture: Agriculture had witnessed remarkable progress and due to this “state of surplus” arrived during the 6th century BC. The wet paddy cultivation also resulted in manifold increase in agriculture production.

(2) Sec Secondary Activities: Apart from farmers, cattle rearers, and traders, those employed in the service industry included washermen, barbers, tailors, painters, and cooks.

(3) Monetisation of Economy: An important aspect of urbanism was the emergence of coinage. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, pada, masaka, and kanika.

(4) Emergence of guilds: During the phase of Mahajanapadas, guilds started playing an important role in the economic systems. They were various kinds of corporate organisations looking after manufacturing and trading activities. They closely monitored markets to ensure smooth transportation of goods across different regions.

(5) Trade routes and trading activities: Trade got a massive boost during this phase and two major trans-regional routes of the time were known as the Uttarapatha and Daksinapatha. Apart from this external trade was also carried out through sea routes.

Technological Factors:

(1) Use of Iron technology: Iron played a crucial role in opening the rain fed forested, hard-soil area of the middle Ganga basin to clearance, cultivation and settlement. (Eg. A large number of iron tools and implements have been found from Ujjain, Sravasti and Hastinapur).

R.S Sharma and D.D Kosambi view that 2nd urbanisation was the result of Iron technology as it helped in clearing the forested and cultivation in the area of ganga plains with the use of Iron axes and ploughshare.

(2) Increase in yield: Paddy transplantation or wet paddy production enormously added to the yield. The yield per acre in wet rice cultivation is substantially higher than that of wheat or millet in traditional agriculture.

Shift to wet rice cultivation: It has been observed that varieties of rice and paddy fields are repeatedly mentioned in the early Buddhist texts. This indicates a decisive shift to wet rice cultivation.

(3) Food security led to the sustainment of a large population: Larger food production made it possible to sustain an increased population, which is reflected in an increase in the number of settlements in the archaeological records of this period.

Cultural Factors:

(1) Religious and Philosophical Movements: Urban centers played a pivotal role in the development and spread of religious and philosophical movements, such as Buddhism, Jainism, and various schools of Hindu philosophy.

(2) Art and Architecture: The growth of urbanization was accompanied by advances in art and architecture. Notable examples include the construction of stupas, temples, and other architectural marvels.

(3) Literature and Learning: Urban areas also served as centers of learning, where scholars and teachers congregated to disseminate knowledge.

Other Factors:

(1) Infrastructure Development: The establishment of roads, bridges, and irrigation systems promoted urbanization by facilitating connectivity, transportation, and agriculture.

(2) Military Fortifications: Some urban centers were fortified for defensive purposes, reflecting the political and military concerns of the time.

(3) Foreign Influences: Contacts with foreign civilizations through trade and diplomacy introduced new ideas, technologies, and cultural elements, influencing the urban landscape.

Conclusion:

It’s important to note that urbanization during this period was not uniform across the subcontinent, and the degree and pace of urban growth varied from region to region. Additionally, the specific dynamics of each factor could differ depending on the location and time frame, making it a complex and nuanced process to understand.

Overall, urbanization in India after the Later Vedic Period was shaped by a combination of political, social, economic, cultural, and infrastructural factors, reflecting the multifaceted nature of urban development in ancient India.