In the colonial period, the nature of towns was different from that of the villages. Even then the separation between the two was fluid. Elucidate.
The distinct character of towns and villages: The towns were quite different from the villages during the colonial rule. It is evident fro>m the points are given below: The towns represented specific, cultures and economic activities. But in the villages, people cultivated land, reared animals and went to a forest in search of food. The towns were inhabited by people who came from various walks of life such as, the artisans, traders, administrators and rulers. So, they dominated the rural people, which were mostly peasants and milk-men. The towns and cities were fortified by walls. It symbolised their separation and aloofness from the rural people. On the other hand, the villages were not fortified by the walls.The fluid relationship between towns and countryside (villages): Though the towns and villages were quite distinct from each other yet their separation from each other was fluid, which is clear from the following points: The peasants covered long distances whenever they went on pilgrimage. So they passed through many towns. During natural calamities like famines, the villagers flocked to towns. Sometimes, goods and human-beings went to villages from the towns. For example, the people of towns and cities took shelter in the countryside whenever their towns or cities were attacked by the enemy.
The distinct character of towns and villages: The towns were quite different from the villages during the colonial rule. It is evident fro>m the points are given below: The towns represented specific, cultures and economic activities. But in the villages, people cultivated land, reared animals and went to a forest in search of food. The towns were inhabited by people who came from various walks of life such as, the artisans, traders, administrators and rulers. So, they dominated the rural people, which were mostly peasants and milk-men. The towns and cities were fortified by walls. It symbolised their separation and aloofness from the rural people. On the other hand, the villages were not fortified by the walls.The fluid relationship between towns and countryside (villages): Though the towns and villages were quite distinct from each other yet their separation from each other was fluid, which is clear from the following points: The peasants covered long distances whenever they went on pilgrimage. So they passed through many towns. During natural calamities like famines, the villagers flocked to towns. Sometimes, goods and human-beings went to villages from the towns. For example, the people of towns and cities took shelter in the countryside whenever their towns or cities were attacked by the enemy.
