India from Space
The settlement structure of India has undergone significant changes over time, with regions comprising of various types of settlements like villages, hamlets, towns, and cities. The settlement structure of different regions of India was not static, and some regions like the middle Ganga plain and the Deccan were endowed with a greater number of towns. As we proceed towards the post-Gupta period, the urban centers start to disappear, and there is increasing evidence of agrarian expansion and the emergence of new rural settlements.
Regions with higher population density have always played a leading role in Indian history. The Ganga valley, the Tamil plains, and the East coast were all regions with higher density of population. The formation of some regions in Early India, such as the Yamuna doab, the Middle Ganga valley, Malwa, the Northern Deccan, Andhra, Kalinga, and the Tamil plains, emerged quite early as bases of power. The Konkan, Canara, and Chattisgarh have preserved their individuality.
Some areas such as the Raichur Doab between the Krishna and Tungabhadra and Vengi between the Godavari and Krishna have been continuously fought over for their agricultural resource potential, which could add immensely to the strength of the adjoining regions.
The major nuclear regions have been the major agricultural areas with vast expanses of fertile alluvial. The regions with higher density of population and more towns were more developed and had a greater impact on the political and cultural history of India.
In the early period of Indian history, the major settlements were concentrated around the fertile river valleys, and the agrarian economy was the mainstay of the society. These settlements were organized around the village community, and the social and economic life of the people was closely linked to the land. As the society evolved, new urban centers emerged, and trade and commerce started to play an important role.
During the Mauryan period, the cities of Pataliputra, Taxila, and Ujjain emerged as important centers of political power and trade. The Gupta period saw the emergence of several important urban centers such as Kannauj, Mathura, and Varanasi. However, as we move towards the post-Gupta period, the urban centers start to disappear, and there is a gradual shift towards rural settlements.
The emergence of new rural settlements was the result of the expansion of agriculture, which became the primary occupation of the people. The new settlements were organized around the village community, and the social and economic life of the people was closely linked to the land. The emergence of new rural settlements was also the result of the decline of trade and commerce, which led to a decline in the importance of urban centers.
In conclusion, the settlement structure of India has undergone significant changes over time, with regions comprising of various types of settlements like villages, hamlets, towns, and cities. Regions with higher density of population have always played a leading role in Indian history, and the major nuclear regions have been the major agricultural areas with vast expanses of fertile alluvial. The emergence of new rural settlements was the result of the expansion of agriculture, which became the primary occupation of the people, and the decline of trade and commerce, which led to a decline in the importance of urban centers.
