Mention any two characteristics of the cities in the Indian subcontinent as described by Ibn Batuta.

Ibn Batuta had arrived in Delhi in the 14th century. He provided a very informative and detailed description of the cities of India. The characteristics of the cities in the Indian subcontinent as described by Ibn Batuta are:

a. The cities were densely populated and prosperous, although they were sometimes affected by war.

b. They had crowded streets, bright and colorful markets with a variety of goods.

c. Delhi was the largest city in India due to the vast size of the population.

d. The rampart around the city was expanded.

e. Inside the rampart, were houses for night sentry, gatekeepers and storehouses.

f. The lower part of the rampart was built of stones and the upper was built of bricks.

g. It also had many towers.

h. Delhi had a total of 28 gates which were called ‘Darwaza’. The most famous ones were Gul Darwaza and Mandi Darwaza.

i. The market was a place of social, economic and cultural transactions.

j. It had many religious places as well.

k. There were fixed places for the performances by singers, dancers, etc.

l. Many towns and cities had derived their wealth from the appropriation of the surplus earned from the villages.