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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
The Lecture Contains:
Pre-Modern Urbanization
The prehistoric period (2500 to 1800 BCE)
Indus Valley Civilization
After a millenium (fifth to third BCE)
Dissociation from Nature and Quest for Salvation: An Urban Question?
References
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
Pre-Modern Urbanization 2
Region
Mesopotamia
Egypt
India
Eastern Mediterranean
China
Mexico
2Gottdiener and Hutchison,
Location
Approximate date
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
3900 BC
Nile River Valley
3200 BC
Indus River Valley
2400 BC
Create
1600 BC
Yellow River Valley
1600 BC
Yucatan Peninsula
200 BC
2006 p. 22
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
The urban history of India is complex and there are spatial discontinuities. For the sake of convenience it could be divided into
the following time period:
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The prehistoric period — 2500 to 1800 BCE
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The early historical period — 600 BCE to 500 CE
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The medieval period — 600 CE to 1800 CE
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The British period — 1800 CE to 1947 CE
Sources : Ramachandran 2010 (1989)
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
The prehistoric period (2500 to 1800 BCE)
Urbanization in the Indian subcontinent dates back to 2500 BCE. The Indus valley region was the seat of this prehistoric urban civilization. Named after the first site that was excavated in Harappa, the Harappan civilization was
primarily urban though the people were agricultural. Of all the sites that have been excavated so
far, Mohenjodaro and Harappa are regarded as the two most important cities of this
civilization. Lothal was a major port in the Gulf of Cambay. It is estimated that the Harappan cities had about 35,000
inhabitants.
Mohenjodaro and Harappa were both situated on the banks of navigable rivers and the cities consisted
of two parts: the citadel, located on high ground and the lower city where the
quarters of the ordinary people were located. The lower city was built on a grid pattern. The cities had
excellent covered drainage system with manholes for periodic cleaning. Soak-pits partially purified the sewage before draining
them into the river. Brick-lined wells provided water to homes. Houses built with fired bricks of uniform size could boast of basic
urban amenities such as baths and toilets.
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
Indus Valley Civilization
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
After 1900 BCE the Harappan cities declined and their general condition
deteriorated. The decline was manifested in the deterioration of the sewage system, extension of houses into wellplanned streets and mixing up of residential and non-residential quarters. There was progressive decline in the quality of urban
life, but why they were finally abandoned is still unknown.
After 1400 BCE the Harappan urban centres collapsed and there was regression to villages.
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
After a millenium (fifth to third BCE)
Archeologically demonstrable urbanization had reached the middle Ganges valley extending eastward by 500 BCE if not
earlier.
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Frenetic urbanization begins in the Gangetic valley.
In South India urbanization begins a little later but between third century BCE and third century CE there are a host of
port cities. They had trade relations with the Mediterranean.
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
Scholars have pointed out that throughout the traditional story of Buddha's life we encounter descriptions of capital cities like
Kapilavastu , Rajagriha , Kausambi , Vaishali , Benaras .
From now onwards, urbanization became a continuous feature of the civilization and is documented and substantiated by the
great literary texts of this period.
The Eastward Movement of Urban Civilization in the Sub-continent
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Mohenjodaro 3000-1500 B.C.E.
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Hastinapur 1500-1000 B.C.E.
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Kausambi 1000-500 B.C.E.
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Mainamati 500-1 B.C.E
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Module 2: Origin of city in history
Lecture 5: History of Urbanization in India
References
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Possehl, Gregory L. 2002. The Indus Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective. New Delhi:
Vistaar Publication (Alta Mira Press).
Ramachandran, R. ,2010 (1989),"Urbanization and Urban Systems in India", , New Delhi: Oxford University
Press
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