Characteristic of urbanization during the medieval period in India were:
In the early medieval period, the rate of urbanisation was slow due to unstable political conditions. Only fortress towns under the patronage of chieftains and petty rulers could grow.
Those towns also developed which were along the main routes of travel, and by the river-side had trade in food grains, cloth, swords, carpets, perfumes and several other handicraft articles.
It was only under the rule of Akbar that urban life was reconstituted and redeveloped. All centres – ‘dasturs’ (districts) as well as ‘parganas’ (tehsils) beside capitals in nature were also ‘garrison towns’ where armies were invariably stationed for protection.
Urban centres in the medieval period were surrounded by agricultural land. Farmers and labourers usually resided near or outside the town limit. The areas within the walls of a town were inhabited by artisans of different castes engaged in handicrafts and other works.
