Ancient cities of riverine Bengal: In search for ‘the soul’ of the settlements

Abstract

A town or city makes significant contributions to humanity. The city changes as a result of memory, aspiration, adversity, and success. A city has life to offer because of its unique personality. The city framework's understanding of the human condition is intrinsic, producing a collective awareness that embraces the concept of civic identity and encourages true empathy among its residents. This deep sense of belonging and interconnectedness is delicately woven into the fabric of the built environment, where the interaction of temporal, spatial, and material factors merge to create such an ambiance. Furthermore, despite the disputed and ever-changing nature of urban centers and human habitations, it is critical to recognize that recognizable and tactically organized progressions defined the city's genesis on deltaic terrain. Topography, the presence of resources, proximity to a commercial center, and religious conviction all affect the colony's potential. This phenomenology does not exclude the old cities of Bengal. Bengal has a long history of having many famous cities, suburbs, educational hubs, and villages. Bengal, followed by the riverine linkages, became a crucial trading route as these cities and settlements were connected to other inland ports. The geographic position of the delta land creation and the results of this position are appreciated; an old city's origins may provide a novel idea or narrative. However, the goal of this research is to comprehend the history and character of Bengal, an old metropolis. Additionally, the research would aim to define the "soul" of the city in its genuine and logical context. This study focuses on the desire to elaborate on the character of the historic cities in the riverine delta. Since rivers were once a prevalent feature of this particular landform, river-supported settlements were also created. Rivers bring wealth, but they can also bring misery. Rivers support trade. Since the Riverine Excel, all of these potentials have developed. A comprehensive study endeavor will be conducted to provide evidence for the significance of rivers and to capture the character of the historic towns in Bengal. The optimal approach for this scholarly inquiry would involve the exploitation of cartographic data and visual representations.