From European Dwelling Settlements to Global Cities looks at the pattern of urbanization, planning and development of spatial culture—regular and periodic—on the Tamil coast in the early modern world and the historical processes that shaped them. It examines the establishment and growth of the towns Porto Novo, Tuticorin, Nagapattinam, Mylapore, Pulicat, Tranquebar, Cuddalore, and Madras that developed in the age of European commerce and empire, from the clustered villages around the umland, the vast and deep hinterland and the wide expanse of maritime foreland. The study makes a comparative understanding of these cosmopolitan ports and how they superseded interior capital cities like Madurai, Thanjavur, and Tiruchirapalli, the flourishing seats of power.

Stephen argues that the network and gateway functions connecting the several ports of the Atlantic and a multitude of trading marts in Asia enabled them to rise from European dwelling settlements to fortified commercial towns and global cities. These enclaves used information and technological changes to enhance their living conditions, employment opportunities and longevity.

This book also analyses, historically, the phenomena of urbanism and colonialism through the study of topography, cartography, demography, and Western iconography. It traces the geo-political factors significant in securing the prominence of these port towns, the elements of military, civil and commercial administrations in them, with governors and military commanders, and explains the evolution of White Town and the Black Settlements, beyond the walls of the city. The book also dwells on building and construction technology, the growth of institutions like the municipality, public works, court of justice, mint, gunpowder factory, and astronomical observatory, besides the missionaries’ activities and city life.