Colonial Urbanization and the Reconfiguration of Coastal Space

Key Points

• The analysis demonstrates how colonial urbanization shaped local social structures with influences from both external and internal factors.
• Key findings include the role of intermediary classes like the mirasdar elites and dubashi in the evolution of Madras.
• Observational analysis across historical contexts reveals that Madras evolved from a fishing village to a colonial trade hub.
• This research highlights the economically and socially complex nature of colonial urban environments, not merely the result of external domination.