A Network of Small Towns Mandapika


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

A Network of Small Towns Mandapika

A Network of Small Towns: Mandapika

From the eighth century on wards the subcontinent was dotted with several small towns. These probably emerged from large villages.

  • They usually had a Mandapika (or Mandi of later times) to which nearby villagers brought their produce to sell. They also had market streets were called Hatta (haat of later times) lined with shops.
  • Besides, there were streets for different kinds of artisans such as potters, oil pressure, sugar makers, toddy makers, smiths, stonemasons, etc. while town of town.
  • Many came from far and near to these towns to buy local articles and sell products of distant places like horses, salt, camphor, saffron, betel nut and spices like pepper. 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.
  • There are some rights that were recorded in Inscriptions that have survived to this day.

    The following is a Summary from a tenth -century inscription from Rajasthan which lists the dues that were to be collected by temple authorities: There were taxes in kind on :

  • Sugar and Jaggery, dyes, thread, and cotton,
  • On coconuts , salts, areca nuts, butter, sesame oil, on cloth.
  • Besides there were taxes on traders, on those who sold metal goods, on distillers, on oil, on cattle fodder, and on loads of grains.
  • Some of these taxes were collected in kind , while others were collected in cash.
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