Role of Geography in Shaping the Structure of Trade in Mughal India

Isha Kaushik

Abstract: Trading as an activity was at its zenith during the Mughal period in India. The role of Geography was exceptionally crucial in the foundation of a trading town. How propitious geographical factors helped in the growth and development of a trading town in that period is the foremost focus of this paper. Assortments of factors were responsible for the growth of trade during that period.Among them geographical factors also played a key role. If a town was having a centripetal location, was near to a water body or had fertile soil or had a rich hinterland then it was considered apt for becoming a trading centre. Technology was not that advance as it is today so it becomes interesting to know how trading towns were affected by geographical factors.

Keywords: Inland trade, Administrative, Topography, Entrepot, Water body