Imperial Cholas...•Velala - Shudra agriculturists •Brahminical dominance - Vedic knowledge,...
Transcript of Imperial Cholas...•Velala - Shudra agriculturists •Brahminical dominance - Vedic knowledge,...
Imperial Cholas
Continued…
• Founder and 1st king - Vijayalaya (850 - 871CE)
•Captured Tanjore in AD 850
• By the end of 9th century southern Tamilcountry came under Cholas
• By the end of 9th century southern Tamil
country came under Cholas
Rajaraja
(985 CE – 1014 CE)Policy of conquest and subordination
• Destroyed the Chera Navy at Trivandrum
• Defeated Pandyan King ‘Amarabhujanga’
• Western Ganga territory
• Ceylon’s invasion
• Peninsular India - Northwestern part of Gangakingdom of Karnataka and Vengi
UPSC previous years questions
Q. Which of the Chola kings conquered Ceylon?
a) Aditya I
b) Rajaraja I
c) Rajendra I
d) Vijayalaya
Rajendra 1
(1014 – 1044 CE) Policy of conquest and subordination
• Annexed Pandya and Chera countries, Ceylon
• Tungabhadra demarcated as naturalboundary against Chalukyan kingdom
• Gangaikondachola
• Naval Expedition of Kadaram and Sri Vijayakingdom
UPSC previous years questionsQ. Consider the following statements
1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over Peninsular India in the early medieval times.
2. The Cholas sent an expedition against the Shailendra empire of South East India and conquered some of the areas.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
UPSC previous years questionsQ. Consider the following statements
Assertion (A): The Cholas launched a conquest of South East Asia.
Reasoning (R): They had developed a strong fleet.
Select the answer from the following codes
a) If A and R both are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
b) If A and R both are correct and R is not the correct explanation of A
c) If A is incorrect and R is correct
d) If A is correct and R is incorrect
Chola Administration • Monarchial administration
• Ministerial council - Officials paid through land grants
• Ministerial council - Officials paid through land grants
• Administrative units - Mandala - Kottam - Nadu -
Kurram – Village
• Revenue administration - Land tax (1/3rd of
produce) - Cash or kind Irrigation tax + tolls +
professional taxes + Tax on mines, forests, salt pans
etc
• Control of external trade
UPSC previous years questionsQ. Which of the following was the name of salt tax in ancient times under
the Chola administration?
a) Bhaga
b) Uppayam
c) Valiyam
d) Hiranya
Continued…• Chola administration
• Military administration - Infantry, Elephant, Cavalry
and Navy
• Velaikkaras
• Mahadandanayaka/Senapati
Local GovernmentCorporate assemblies at various levels
Nadu - Assembly of landholding peasants
• Unit of revenue collection for the state
• Brahmadeya and Vellanvagai settlements
Brahmadeya - Sabha and Mahasabha
• Functioning through ‘Variyams’
• Membership of sabha/mahasabha -Qualifications
Continued…• Sabha - Agent of tax collection
– Dharmasana
– Reference to officials -Karnattan (accountant),Madhyastha (record of all proceedings
– Management of temple complex
• Ur - Non - Brahmadeya village assembly
– Tandal (tax collector), Niyayattar (policing)
• Nagram - Assembly of traders of nadu
– Control of Market operations -Nagarakkanakku (accountant of nagaram)
UPSC previous years questionsQ. In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:• Term Description• (1) Eripatti : Land, revenue from which was set apart for the
main¬tenance of the village tank(2) Taniyurs : Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins(3) Ghatikas : Colleges generally attached to the temples
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?(a) 1 and 2(b) 3 only(c) 2 and 3(d) 1 and 3
Chola Village Assembly - Uttaramerur Inscriptions
• Village administration through Sabha
• Election to the Sabha membership -Qualifications for contesting
– Property ownership
– Knowledge of Vedas
– Integrity of character
– Selection by lot
Continued…
• Elected for 3 years + not eligible forimmediate re-election
• Different committees - Tank committee,Gold committee, Annual committee
UPSC previous years questionsQ. Which dynasty was well known for its excellent village administration?
a) Pandyas
b) Pallavas
c) Cholas
d) Chalukyas
Society During Chola Period • Varna system juxtaposed on Tamil society -
Two fold stratification
• Velala - Shudra agriculturists
• Brahminical dominance - Vedic knowledge,owners of brahmadeya lands, priestly class
• Nagarattar as the Vaishya class
• Temple service based hierarchy - Valangaiand Idangai
Continued…• Purity and pollution at various levels
• Temple as an agency for social integration
• Devotional bhakti - Shaivism and
Vaishnavism
• Devadasi system in temples
• It was during this period several industriesflourished→
• Kanchipuram centre of silk weaving.
• Metal works industry- bronze images of the Chola
• Trade both internal & international.
• Gold, Silver & copper coins