Kerala from Sangam to Dutch Period

Introduction. ?Kerala has a unique geographical smear. ?Kerala has a rich culture and is the meeting point of many types of ideologies, Ideas and religious views. ?Travelers, merchants and conventions visited kerala and influenced its memoir. ? explanation Behind the birth Of Kerala. ?Parasurama the 6th personification of Lord Vishnuthrew an axe far into the sea and commanded the sea to retreat. ?The e claim of the realm that emerged from the waters became Kerala. ?From where does the frontier kerala come from ? ?Sanskrit scholars derive the name from Kera or coconut,which is a staple growth of kerala. Others say it is derived from the Tamil ledger Charal means Mountain slope. ?Arab and Persian writers and early Malayalam and mediaeval Tamil Literature say that the word kerala means the land of hills and mountains. Traditional sources. ? un cadencely history of kerala is based on traditions. The cardinal major sources be ? archaeologic Sources. ?Archaeological survey and excavations were started in Kerala by hold and Conor in 1819. ? there are 3 relics of the Historical period found in the various parts of Kerala. They are 1. monuments 2. coins 3. inscription. ?Monuments. 1.Stone images of Buddha, muse the culture of kerala during the Buddhist era. 2. Religious monuments Temples , Churches, Mosques and Synagogues. 3. Palaces noteworthy Padmanabhapuram palace in Kanyakumari district and Dutch palace in Fort cochin. 4. Forts and historical sites. ?Coins. ? Many foreign and indigenous coins urinate been found in kerala. Rast is the oldest of them. Roman coins are the oldest Foreign coins. Rulers of Travancore and Cochin Had their own item-by-item coinage. Dutch copper coins and British Indian Coins give valuable information to historians. ?Inscriptions . separatrix light on the political,Cultural, and social liveliness of the People of Kerala. 2. Give insight into working conditions of local anaesthetic assemblies, how temples were managed, Relationship between the landlord and populate and functioning Of educational institutions. 3. Some inscriptions test the liberal policy of religious tolerationfollowed by the ancient determiners of Kerala. ?Sangam Age(1-500 A. D. ) ? Sangam Literature was composed, In which the whole shebang of poets and writers threw light upon cultural, economic, political, Social and another(prenominal) aspects of the kingdoms of the South. finished these works we get to know what happened during the basic 500 classs of Christian term I. there was monarchy and patrilineal ashes of succession, II. Women were headspring educated and had a good position in society, III. Monogamy was the norm, widow remarriage was permitted, child marriage was not there. ?No year of society into high and low castes,there was no untouchability, ? Rice was the staple food, verbalize had no restrictions regarding beef eating and other non-veg items. Rice-wine was a popular drink. ?It was rare to find brahmins though some were there as Aryan Brahmins in the royal court. tillage was a major occupation and callable to backup with countries interchangeable Rome, they flourished as a promiscuous set of people. Post Sangam Period (500-800 A. D. ) ? important rulers of this period were Cheraman Perumal and Kulasekara Alwar. ?The former became a Vaishnavite Poet and the last mentioned accepted Islam and went to Mecca. ?Adi Shankara (788-820 A. D. ) lived and propogated the Advaida philosophy during this period. ?After the psychiatric hospital of Kerala it was believed that Parasurama planted sixty-four joint Brahmin Families and gave them rules which would govern them. The Brahmins invited rulers called Perumals to rule them and each ruler was appointed for a period of 12 years to rule over them. The Kollam era (800-1200A. D) ?politically Kerala was under the Cholas and Pandyas. A temple was constructed at almost e very(prenominal) townsfolk and village in Kerala th e Quilon calendar was introduced during this meter in 25 July 825 A. D. ? Festivals standardised onam and vishu came to be celebrated. ? The 9th century A. D. adage Malayalam growing as a distinct language. ? Educational institutions standardised Salai came into existance. ? This period withal saw the grow of good deal and commerce. there was trade between China and Kerala. ?Tenant frame was prevalent whereby the feudal lords enjoyed life at the cost of the poor tenants. ?Sales and revenue enhancement on vehicles fetched a revenue for the state. ?Ravi Varma earned run average (1200-1500 A. D) ? During this period the land relations showed current important features ? Increase of intermediaries as short holders of land. ?Increased measures to expand cultivable land and enhance income from land. ?The emergence of cash currency in obtaining land sets. ?Traditional landowners held the right of ownership of land. ?Pledging of land of debt on interest. Agriculture was the ma in(prenominal) occupation. ?There were other occupations like ritual-cum-medicine men, astrologers, washer men and so on. ?There was growth of trade and trading centres ? peck was at 3 levels ?Transport system was essential for trade and in this context there were many boats, ships even link over waterways was essential. ?Portugese Rule In Kerala. ?Political authority was fragmented by the time the Portuguese came to kerala. ?In 1498, Vasco-do-Gamma reached Kappad near Kozhikode. ?Portugese, was the frontmost to achieve a stronghold in Kerala ?A number of battles were fought between the tike rulers and the Portugese. In 1524 Gamma was appointed the Portugese vicereine of Kerala. ?Apart from commerce, they were also interested in imparting their faith to the people. ?Many people were forced to convert. ?In 1550s , St. Francis Xavier reborn many fisher folk and other socially backward sections along the coastal regions of southern Kerala. ?The chiefs in the state (except the Mu slims to whom the Portuguese were hostile) did not resist the conversion as long as they had freedom to do trade and commercial activities and the economic framework of society was not disturbed. The Portuguese use their own tactics of divide and rule policy for fulfilling their commercial interests in the state. ? sunrise(prenominal) towns had risen and old towns decayed. eg. Calicut, Cochin, Chaliyam gained importance musical composition Quilon and Cranganore languished. ?Crops like cashewnuts, tobacco, custard apple, guava, pineapple and papaya were introduced. ? gunpowder increased the importance of artillery. This brought unemployment among the Nairs who were well teach in swords and shields. They established seminaries and colleges in Cochin, Angamali and Cranganore. For gtting Christian priests. St.Francis Xavier translated Catechism into Malayalam. Fearing ?The Dutch in Kerala. ?Dutch einsteinium India Company was established in the year 1592. ?In 1604 they came to the Ma labar coast. ?There was rivalry btw Cochin and Kozhikode during that time and they took advantage of this situation. ?However like the Portuguese their involvement in the local politics was minimal. ?However they had conflicts btw Marthanda Varma of Thiruvithankur and Samuthiri of Kozhikode. ?The Dutch had the main power over the Trade activities. ? white pepper and spices were exported by merchants only after the take on of the Dutch people. They constructed forts and factories here like the Portuguese. ?They interchange Indonesian spices and sugar to those ships which were going to Cochin. It off-key out to be a success. ? barely this didnt last for long as it declined from 1783 and was completely stopped by 1793 due to poor demand. ?Conclusion ?The History of kerala is very essential part of the heritage of the state and country as well. ?If we study History well then we would know approximately the real background in which our state developed through the years. ?We can also see the contrasting practices that were in flair during the ancient and medieval and the present kerala society.