Question

Highlight the factors that led to the development of trading or manufacturing towns.

Answer 1

Medieval towns could be broadly grouped into three categories, and manufacturing towns were one of them. These towns served as regions of trade and later developed into full-fledged towns. The factors leading to their development are as follows:

(1) Growing market: With the introduction of various technological devices, manufacturing towns reached new heights. New activities were introduced here, including carpet weaving, silk weaving and paper making. All these activities contributed to the settlement of more people in these areas.
(2) Trading regions: Since these regions were associated with the production of goods, they gradually developed into areas of massive trade. These regions started witnessing an influx of merchants, traders, artisans and many others who finally settled in these areas. This led to the development of these towns.
(3) Nobility: The Sultanate was nestled in towns and spent its enormous resources in these towns. This ultimately gave a thrust to the growth of trading or manufacturing towns.