Question

Describe Surat as a gateway to the West.

Answer 1

Hint: We have to remember that the Surat in Gujarat was the emporium of western trade during the Mughal period along with Cambay (now Khambut) and somewhat later, Ahmedabad. Surat was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz.

Complete answer:
We know that Surat was the emporium of western trade during the Mughal period. Surat was called the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz. It was also called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here. It was a cosmopolitan city inhabited by people of all castes and creeds. In the ${17^{th}}$ century the Portuguese, Dutch and English had their factories and warehouses at Surat. Several retail and wholesale shops could be found in Surat. These shops sold cotton textiles. Here, it is worth mentioning that the textiles of Surat were famous for their gold ace borders, i.e. zari, and had a market in West Asia, Africa, and Europe. The state provided all the facilities to the people who came to the city from all over the world. The Kathiawad seths or Mahajan had huge banking houses at Surat. The Surat hundis were honored in far-off markets of Cairo in Egypt, Basra in Iraq and Antwerp in Belgium.

Note: We must remember that Surat turned out to be a very important commercial city during the Mughal reign because it grew famous for all types of textiles, particularly cotton textiles. We also remember that the Surat textiles had markets in West Asia, Africa, and Europe. We must remember that the Surat has also been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.