The archaeological evidence from the Harappan civilization suggests that Harappa was indeed a well-planned town with a ‘way of life that can be referred to as ‘first urbanisation’. The city had a covered drainage system and a well-developed drainage system underground. The social conditions were welladvanced like other contemporary civilizations.
Towards the end of the Later Vedic period, after the pastoral and nomadic Indo-Aryans spread from Punjab to the Gangetic Plain; they deforested large areas of land to pave way for agriculture.
The period c.500 BCE to c.200 BCE is considered the period of ‘second urbanisation’ which brought a large-scale beginning of town life in the middle Gangetic basin. Magadha had gained prominence and formed the base of the Mauryan Empire.
Sixteen monarchies and “republics” known as Mahajanpadas, stretched across the IndoGangetic Plain from modern-day Afghanistan to Bengal and Maharashtra.
This period saw the second major rise of urbanism in India after the Harappan civilisation. Evidence for it comes through archaeological excavations, especially those of the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) culture. Jain, Buddhist, and Sutra literature are among the important sources of information about cities and socio-political life of this period.
The beginning of coinage (metallic coins) started in this period. These cities became the centres of administration as well as of trade and commerce. This led to the emergence of city-based artisan and merchant guilds. A network of routes for internal and distant trade developed in both eastern and western regions. The position of ‘king’ gained much strength and respect the king was assisted by ministers and officials, who often came from the Brahmin and Kshatriya caste.
