The gradual decline of towns was an important feature of which period?

Explanation

In the Gupta period, towns moved towards gradual decline. Across the entire Ganga valley, many cities that were earlier extremely prosperous were either abandoned in the Gupta age or witnessed considerable disruption in settlement. By the time of Xuanzang’s arrival, even an important city like Pataliputra had turned into a village. Important towns like Mathura, and places such as Kumhrar, Sonpur, Sohgaura, and many significant centers of the Ganga valley in Uttar Pradesh also show clear evidence of decline. <!-- layout: roqk, cuir, rmdy, ccxi, zfvg, thot, qrst -->