SURAT: THE PORT-CITY OF 17TH CENTURY

      Gujarat has been the region of merchants’ activities and centre of export and import trade since the pre-historic times .During the Indus Valley Civilization, Lothal, with a huge dockyard, was the port par excellence for the trading with the contemporary civilizations of the west Asia. During the ancient times Bhrigukaccha or Bhroach was the most important port with Ujjain (Ozene) as an important emporium of its hinterland.[1]  By the time of the Sultanate, another port Cambay emerged as a premier port, though Bhroach continued as a port of some significance. Annexation of Gujarat by Alauddin khilji definitely provided the port of Cambay with a greater hinterland of north India. Under the Sultans of Gujarat, the port was so important that the Portuguese preferred to call the province of Gujarat as “Kingdom of Cambay”.[2] Surat which replaced Cambay by the turn of the 17^th century remained a port par excellence till the first quarter of the 18^th century, when it was eventually replaced by Bombay.[3]Throughout the 17^th century, Surat appears to be ever thriving and always growing. In fact, the height of eminence, prosperity and popularity which Surat enjoyed during the 17^th century was not achieved by any other port before.