Why and how the phase of towns changed by the middle of the 18th century?
There was a new phase of change in towns by the middle of the 18th century. Commercial towns like Surat, Masulipatnam and Dhaka, which were growing in the 17th century, declined with the shift of trade to other places. After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the British gradually acquired political control and the trade of the English East India Company expanded. Colonial port cities like Madras, Calcutta and Bombay emerged as new economic capitals. These cities also emerged as centres of the colonial administration and political power. New institutions and buildings were developed. Urban spaces were ordered in new ways. New occupations were developed and that is why people moved towards these colonial cities. By about 1800, these three cities were the largest cities in India from the point of view of population
