0.1 Kerala before the Arrival of Portuguese
The early history of Kerala incoperates with South India. Kerala was a part of Tamizakam upto the close of Sangam age (c. A.D. 6). At that period the land was under the sway of three kingdoms viz. the Ays in the South, the Musaka dynasty in the North and the Cheras in the region in between them. The most renowned ruler among the early Cheras was Cheran Cenkuttavan celebrated in Cilappatikaram. He was a patron of arts and literature, trade and commerce.
The Sangam age witnessed a period of cultural efflorescence. Hindus,. Buddhists, Jains, Christians and Jews found roots in this land of Dravidians to sprout. The foremost feature of Kerala society in Sangam period was its salvation from rigid caste and communal trance. Untouchability and unapproachability were unknown. No labour or labourer was considered inferior or superior in the society. All people formed an equal band.
The Sangam age was followed by a 'long historical night'. We see the later history of Kerala from 800 A.D. It was during this night, Buddhism and Jainism declined and Hinduism became more predominant, by absorbing Aryan ideas largely. Muslims, first time in the history, landed on the west coast, at this period. The period lies in between 800 1120 A.D. was a 'golden age' in the history of Kerala. Under the Kulasekharas of Mahodayapura, Kerala enjoyed the benefit of central administration. The great Advaitic Philosopher Sri Sankara lived at this period. It was also the beginning of the Malayalam Era (Kollam Era) ie. 825 A.D. Kulasekhara Azwar and Ceraman perumal Nayanar contributed much for the devotional nature of Hindu Philosophy. The traditional stage art Kuttu and Kutiyattam flourished, which did much for the development of language and literature. Temples became the meeting place of culture and art. So many Vedic institutions and colleges were instituted as adjuncts to temples in almost all parts of Kerala.
The fall of Kulasekhara kingdom in 1102 A.D. made the local chieftains to declare independence and thus so many princely states rose in various parts of Kerala. Among these the most important were Venatu in South, Perumpatappu Swarupam (State of Cochin) in Central Kerala and Zamorin of Calicut and the Koolattiri of Cirakkal in North Kerala. Under Ravi Varma Kulasekhara (1299-1314 A.D.) Venatu became a powerful state early in the 14th century. At this time, Kerala exercised commercial ties with Chinese. Revi Varma Kulasekhara in 1313 A.D. celebrated his coronation as the Emperor of South India on the banks of the river Vegavati. Vira Raghava of Perumpatappu Swarupam, who issued the famous Viraraghava Pattayam in 1225 A.D., was a renowned ruler. In North, under Zamorins, Calicut became the commercial centre of South India as is evident from the accounts of foreign travellers like Iban Batuta (1333-47 A.D.) and Abdul Razak (1442 A.D.). The legend goes that in the court of Mana Vikrama the Great (1466 - 71 A.D.) there were eighteen royal poets who were traditionally known as 'patinettarakkavika!'. The most versatile among them were Punam Namboothiri, Kakkasseri Bhattatiri and Uddanda Sastri. The arrival of Vasco Da Gama at Calicut in 1498 A.D. entirely changed the later history of Kerala and India.
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