1. Formational Backdrop

It is common that while discussing the urban landscape of early India, the topic starts from the civilizations like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and Indus Valley. But no such attempt is made here. The term “formational backdrop” means the developmental aspects of a city-centered life of ancient Indians after the end of Harappan culture. For this reason, it is not deemed to be necessary to go through the details of the history of civilizations.

An observation of the subject may be quoted here: “The hazards of searching for a general framework notwithstanding, research available on the ancient and early historical periods in India have shown that there were two major periods of urbanization, to which a third may now be added for the early medieval period. It is also generally accepted that the first urbanization, i.e. the Indus Valley urbanization of the proto-historic period, left no legacy beyond the middle of the second millennium BCE. the second or the early historical phase represents a long period of urban growth stretching from the sixth century BCE. to third century CE. With its epicentere in the Ganges valley, it spread over the whole of North India by the third century BCE., and over Central India, Deccan and the Andhra region between the second century BCE. and third century CE. It must be stressed, however, that it is the latter part of this long chronological span that witnessed the most clearly visible manifestations of this urbanism” (Champakalakshmi R., 1996: 25).

On this topic R. S. Sharma has also made a significant observation: “A picture of material life in India, especially North India can be drawn on the Pāli texts and the Sūtra literature. The Harappan towns disappeared in 1900 BCE. Following that, for about 1500 years, no towns were established in India. However, from about 1200 BCE. we notice settlements in the doab and the neighboring areas. We find two types of settlements in the lower doab in 1000-600 BCE., based on size and location. In the same area and on the same basis, four types of settlements are located some parts. This settlements hierarchy is regarded as the most important indicator of urbanization. Large settlement may enjoy some advantages over the smaller ones, but without crafts, coins, trade and agricultural surplus even a large settlement cannot grow into a town. Towns arose in the mid-Gangetic basin in the fifth century BCE., and thus a second urbanization began in India” (2008: 158-159).