Retracing Late Medieval Urban Growth through Dynastic Architectures: A Study of the Late Medieval City of Murshidabad through Settlement Archaeology Approach
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Keywords

Settlement Archaeology
Rational Interpretation
Murshidabad
Nassiri–Afsar –Nazafi
Heritage Tourism

How to Cite

Retracing Late Medieval Urban Growth through Dynastic Architectures: A Study of the Late Medieval City of Murshidabad through Settlement Archaeology Approach. (2025). Journal of Asiatic Society for Social Science Research, 7(2), 119-134. https://asssr.in/index.php/jasssr/article/view/158

Abstract

Plinth of settlement archaeology approach suggested by B.G. Trigger is an immersive tool for studying settlements by dissecting the elemental components within their own units. It is no false that this discrete instrument of archaeological theatrics not only helps to understand the motives propelled behind the early homogenous settlements, but also can be used to resonate a rational interpretation of the recent past too. Hence, the medieval era in Indian peninsular attested various facets of urban growth. It is no doubt that from very early period only, the urban development in Indian peninsular was obnoxiously attached with traces of economic competence, simultaneously with the political as well as religious growth of the then era. At such juxtaposition in the case of late medieval city of Murshidabad situated in the medieval Bengal suba, the urban developmental phases throughout the settlement unit can be traced within the same fashion only. As far as the structural development of this distinct city is concern, this urban complex attested three dynastic shifts, i.e., Nassiri–Afsar –Nazafi; following which the urban growth gradually shifted from the east to west. A thorough scrutiny on the dynastic architectures further reveals that the shift of settlements not only configured the development of the then city; but also contemplate the importance of such architectures as nodal units for developing heritage tourism in contemporary times.

DOI: 10.46700/asssr/2025/v7/i2/158

 

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