Clase 9 Southern India

8/7/2019 Clase 9 Southern India

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Southern India and Sri Lanka


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T

he first written mentions about the southernpart of India are to be found in the Ramayana andthe Arthasastra. It was known as the region ofDeccan.

According to Kautalya, the Deccan was a much

more interesting region economically due to theshells, pearls, diamonds, precious stones and goldthat were found in big ammounts.

Megastenes mentions the Deccan as well

referring to the Kingdom of the Pandyas. These, together with the Cholas and the Cheras

shaped the political scene of Southern India.


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During Asokas ruling, the southern of India was kept

under the control of the Mauryas, but slowly acquiredits independence after the death of the emperor.

During the 1st Century b. C. it was ruled by the King ofKalingaKharavela. He is mentioned in the

Hathigumpah, an inscritpion found at the entrance of aJainist cave.

During the next century the Deccan was ruled by theSatavahna. They are known under the name of Andhra

as well.T

hey worse enemy were the Satrapas. Under the dynasty of the Satavahnas, remains of

archaic matriarchy are found. Traces of this lasted tillabout the 10th C. or beyond (Heritage of $ & power).


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Their most representative ruler was Gautamiputra Satarkani. Heopened the door for the more cultivated north of India t influencethe southern region.

Because of that, Sanskrit became the dominant language of allIndia.

Religious freedom was a characteristic of the pre-Islamic Deccan.

The Kingdoms forming the Deccan traded worldwide, mainly withthe Roman empire:.

Exportation: Pepper, perfumes, precious stones, marmor, silk,cotton, sugar, wild animals. Importation: Golden coins, slaves, musicinstruments, crystal, copper, jars and wine.

They are considered one of the causes for the Roman Empire to fall,

because the commerce balance was unfavorable for the Romanswhich led to an economical crises.


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The Satavahna assimilated the Vedic-Arian

culture except for their languages.

Aside from Sanskrit, the languages that

dominated the southern territory are known

as Dravidic. Among the Dravidic languages,

Tamil (or Tamul), Telugu and Kanaresic are to

be found. Tamil is considered one of the most

perfect and beautiful languages of the world.They even developed grammar treatises.


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The Cholas The first Chola King known to history was Karrikal (ca.

100 a. D.). Karrikal constructed Puhar and a defensive wall along

the riverside of Kaveri. His Dynasty lasted ca. 300 years.

Around the 5th C. they were substitued by the Pallavas

who fostered the Arian penetration just as theSatavahnas.

The golden epoch of the Pallavas was during the 7th C.Narasimhvarman I (630 660) founded the group of

temples of Mamallapuram (Mahamalla) as well asmany other magnificent centers of cult.

Kanchi was their capitol city which wa visited byHsang Tang.


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During the ruling of Krshna I around the second

half of the 8th C. the famous temple of Kailasa of

Ellora was constructed. It is famous because it is

carved directly in the stone of the mountain.

Sulaiman (a Muslim merchant living in theDeccan) surges as an economic factor during that

century and, being a narrator of facts, signals King

Amoghavarsa as the forth most powerful man in

the known world, behind the Caliph of Bagdad,the Chinese Emperor and the Emperor of

Byzantium.


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The Deccan always had good relations with

the Arabs of the Sind, because they were their

natural allies vs. their enemies the Gurjara-

Pratibara.


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Economy and Culture. The welfare of the State was based not on the

contributions and taxes of the urban centers buton those coming from the farming land.

These segment of the population was about 100million inh.

The political organization of the kingdoms wasdivided in provinces (Rastras) comprising severaldistricts (Visayas) with thousands of small

villages (from 1K up to 4K). Each province had anown army lead by the chief of the province(Rastapatri). The charge was inheritable and wasconsidered a part of the nobility.


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There were city councils constituted by the

Mahattaras (the notable/elder). They were

independent from the Dynasties, thus, they

remained after the latter were gone.

The cities enjoyed a system of public servicesas roadas, water, justice and temples.

The Mahattara was elected by the people

annually. It enjoyed great autonomy andserved as a balance versus the power of the

King.


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Electoral process

Everyone between 35 and 70 who had aproperty, could read and this having

knowledge of the Vedic scriptures could be

elected. Excluded from the electoral system

were those with criminal record, ate forbiddenfood or were infected by taboo diseases

(Sexual, mental or leprosy).

It was formed by 30 representatives.


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The arrival of the Vedic-Arian culture meant the

penetration of Brahmanism and its castes system.

Marco Polo narrates about his trips to Southern

India (Kayal). He emphasized how many different

nationalities and peoples coming from the Westtraded with India. Being horses the main

merchandise. He was amazed about the half-

nakedness of the inhabitants of India, of the

usage of sitting on the floor and of not drinking

directly from the cup, the hammocks, and the

beggars.


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Documents

Clase 9 Southern India