Page 1 - LN-sub topic 1-Administrative Centres , temple towns
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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL


                                                  SUB – HISTORY

                                                        STD VII


                                      Module: 19 (NOTES) (page 75 - 78)

                                                     CH- 6 Towns, Traders and Craftspersons


                        Sub-Topic: Administrative Centres (page 75 - 76)

                                      Temple Towns and Pilgrimage Centres (page 76 - 78)


               One of the most interesting aspects of the medieval period in the seventeenth
               century was the growth of urbanisation.

               Administrative Centres:


                     In Thanjavur, the perennial river Kaveri flows near this beautiful town. The
                       Rajarajeshvara temple built by King Rajaraja Chola is very famous.
                     Besides the temple, there are palaces with mandapas or pavilions. Kings hold
                       court in these mandapas, issuing orders to their subordinates. There are also
                       barracks for the army.
                     Usually a samanta or, in later times, a zamindar built a fortified palace in or
                       near these towns. They levied taxes on traders, artisans and articles of trade
                       and sometimes “donated” the “right” to collect these taxes to local temples,
                       which had been built by themselves or by rich merchants.

                   Temple Towns and Pilgrimage Centres:


                         Thanjavur is an example of a temple town.Temple towns represent a very
                          important pattern of urbanisation, the process by which cities develop.
                          Temples were often central to the economy and society.
                         Pilgrimage centres also slowly developed into townships. Vrindavan (Uttar
                          Pradesh) and Tiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu) are examples of two such
                          towns.
                         Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, the celebrated Sufi saint who settled there in
                          the twelfth century, attracted devotees from all creeds. Near Ajmer is a
                          lake, Pushkar, which has attracted pilgrims from ancient times.
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