CBSE Class 7 Answered

 The subcontinent was dotted with several small towns from the eighth century onwards.

 These probably emerged from large villages.

 They usually had a mandapika to which nearby villagers brought their produce to sell.

 They also had market streets called hatta lined with shops.

 Besides, there were streets for different kinds of artisans such as potters, oil pressers, sugar makers, toddy makers, smiths and stonemasons.

 While some traders lived in the town, others travelled from town to town.

 Many came from far and near to these towns to buy local articles and sell products of distant places such as horses, salt, camphor, saffron, betel nut and spices like pepper.