Tag: study of kerala

The Adiyalars who used to farm during the medieval times occupied the lowest rung in the caste hierarchy whereas the Brahmins were at the top.

The Panayapattam system which was also known as Kanam and Otti became prevalent after the period of the Perumals. According to this, the person who took the land on lease (kana kudiyan) used to give an amount as security to the landlord when he leased the land for cultivation.

Kerala was a part of the ancient Tamilakam, ruled by the Moovendars. A kingdom based at Mahodayapuram was established by the 9th century CE. The rulers of the kingdom were known as Perumals.  The present Kodungallur and the surrounding areas in Kerala were known as Mahodayapuram in those days. The Perumals were also known as Cheras and Cheramans. Some of these rulers adopted the title Kulasekara. Most regions in present Kerala were under the rule of the Perumals.

The present Kodungallur and the surrounding areas were known as Mahodayapuram in those days. The Perumals were also known as Cheras and Cheramans. Some of these rulers adopted the title Kulasekara. Most regions in present Kerala were under the rule of the Perumals.

The socio-economic features of the region during the reign of the Perumals were as follows:

• Agriculture flourished in areas close to water resources.
• Brahmins established their power in agricultural villages.
• Temples developed as centres of power.
• The ownership of farmlands was vested with the Brahmins.
• Aaladiyars were the people who toiled in the soil.

Kerala was a part of the ancient Tamilakam, ruled by the Moovendars. A kingdom based at Mahodayapuram was established by the 9th century CE. The rulers of the kingdom were known as Perumals.  The present Kodungallur and the surrounding areas in Kerala were known as Mahodayapuram in those days. The Perumals were also known as Cheras and Cheramans. Some of these rulers adopted the title Kulasekara. Most regions in present Kerala were under the rule of the Perumals.

The present Kodungallur and the surrounding areas were known as Mahodayapuram in those days. The Perumals were also known as Cheras and Cheramans. Some of these rulers adopted the title Kulasekara. Most regions in present Kerala were under the rule of the Perumals.
The socio-economic features of the region during the reign of the Perumals were as follows:

• Agriculture flourished in areas close to water resources.
• Brahmins established their power in agricultural villages.
• Temples developed as centres of power.
• The ownership of farmlands was vested with the Brahmins.
• Aaladiyars were the people who toiled in the soil.

The purpose of history is to throw light on the past. This is done through discovery and study of historical sources. There are different sources from which history is drawn. They are divided into two parts.

• Literary Sources

1. Religious Literature
2. Secular Literature

• Non-Literary Sources

1. Inscriptions (Epigraphy)
   
2. Coins (Numismatics)
3. Archaeology
4. Account of Foreign Travelers

Inscriptions on copper plates (Epigraphy) are the most important source of history of Medieval Kerala because copper plates with inscriptions were used as official documents. The official documents given by chieftains to temples and tradesmen were mainly on copper plates. 

The copper plates with inscriptions were used as a document in ancient times. The official documents given by the chieftains to temples and tradesmen were mainly on such copper plates. Therisappalli and Jewish copper plates are examples. In some of the plates, the chieftain's reigning period is also recorded.

The Jewish copper plate is a record of the rights sanctioned to Anchuvannam, a group of traders, by Bhaskararavi, a medieval ruler of Kerala based at Mahodayapuram.

Inscriptions on copper plates (Epigraphy) are the most important source of history of Medieval Kerala because copper plates with inscriptions were used as official documents. The official documents given by chieftains to temples and tradesmen were mainly on copper plates. The script used in these inscriptions Vattezhuthu or Kolezhuthu which were the scripts used to write old Malayalam.