Describe the changes in the network of trade that were reflected in the urban centres during 18th century India.
(a) The European Companies set up trading centres in places like Panaji (Portuguese), Masulipatnam (Dutch) and Pondicherry (French).
(b) As trade expanded, towns grew around these trading centres.
(c) From the mid-eighteenth century, commercial centres, like Surat and Dhaka declined as trade shifted to other places.
(d) The English East India Company's trade expanded after the Company acquired Bengal. Colonial port cities, like Madras, Calcutta and Bombay rapidly emerged as the new economic capitals.
(e) New buildings, institutions and new, occupations developed. As people flocked to these cities, these cities become the biggest Indian cities in terms of population.
