Towns, traders and craftspersons

Bidar was famous for its unique metalwork known as Bidri, which involved inlaying silver and gold on blackened alloy.

The west coast of India was a hub for international trade, and cities like Surat and Cochin were home to diverse communities, including Chinese and Jewish traders.

Pilgrimage centers often attracted large numbers of people, leading to the development of markets and infrastructure, which eventually turned them into townships.

The 16th and 17th centuries saw the rise of European maritime powers like the Portuguese, Dutch, and English searching for direct trade routes to India for spices and textiles.

Surat was a major port city in Mughal India, serving as the primary gateway for trade and pilgrims traveling to Mecca. It was historically referred to as the gateway to the west.

In medieval Indian history, the term Mandapika refers to a marketplace or a place where goods were brought for sale, which later evolved into the word Mandi.

Pushkar, located in Rajasthan, is a well-known ancient pilgrim center. The other options are major port or colonial cities that developed later.

The Rajarajeshvara temple was built by the Chola king Rajaraja I in Thanjavur. It is a masterpiece of Chola architecture.

Devdasis were temple dancers who performed rituals and dances in the presence of deities and royalty in medieval Indian temples.

Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, was located in the Krishna-Tungabhadra river basin in present-day Karnataka. The rivers provided natural protection and fertile land for agriculture.

A Hundi is a financial instrument that was used in medieval India for trade and credit, functioning like a bill of exchange or a letter of credit.

Thanjavur is located in the fertile Kaveri delta, which provided the agricultural base for the Chola empire.

Thanjavur served as the capital of the Chola dynasty during their period of expansion and architectural development.