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UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION FIRST SEMESTER M.A. HISTORY PAPER-II HISTORYHISTORY OFOF KERALAKERALA -I-I (2008 Admission onwards) Prepared by Dr.N.PADMANABHAN Reader P.G.Department of History 2 C.A.S.College, Madayi P.O.Payangadi-RS-670358 Dt.Kannur-Kerala. PART- I GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY CHAPTERS CONTENTS PAGES I IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION IN PENINSULAR INDIA 07-06 II LANDSCAPE AND SOIL TYPES 14- 42 III THE WESTERN GHATS 43-47 IV RIVER SYSTEMS AND BACKWATERS 48-72 V CHANGING ROLES OF THE ARABIAN SEA 73-77 PART-II SOURCES AND HISTORICAL WRITINGS CHAPTERS CONTENTS PAGES 1 LEGENDS AND PERCEPTIONS 79-131 II SEARCHES FOR PRIMARY SOURCES 132-149 III TRADITIONAL WRITING OF DIFFERENT TYPES 150-163 IV NEW WRITING 164-194 V EMERGING AREAS 195-208 3 PART ± I GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY Kerala has been through the ages an integral part of the Indian sub- continent.Its history is part of the general history of India and its culture is one of the major streams that have enriched the composite culture of the country. At the same time Kerala has had the distinction of bring an independent geographical and political entity from very early days. Its unique geographical position and peculiar physical features have invested Kerala with a distinct individuality.The land of Kerala comprises the narrow coastal strip bounded by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west in the southern part of the Indian Peninsula.Paradoxical as it might seem, this geographical position has helped to ensure, to some extent, its political and cultural isolation from the rest of the country and also facilitated its extensive and active contacts with the countries of the outside world. The physical aspects of the Kerala region is clearly illustrated in the description of the physiography of the erstwhile Travancore State by Lieut. Conner in his report on the survey made at the beginning of the 19th century.It is worthwhile to quote it in view of the large scale alterations brought in by human 4 inheritance to the natural landscape of the State.Conner's report runs as follows:- The face of the country presents considerable diversity, although its general character, except the southern partsl is extremely abrupt and mountainous. The coast, for a short distance a long the borders of the lake is generally flat: retreating from it, the surface immediately becomes unequal, roughening into slopes which gradually combine and swell into the mountainous amphitheatre that bounds it on the east, where it falls precipitately, but terminates less abruptly on the south. The collected villages waving plains, palmyra topes and extensive cultivation of Nanchanad resemble inevery particular the neightbouring province of Tirnelvelly, except that in no measure partakes of its comparative arid sterility.Approaching northward this fertile plain is succeeded by the woody and rugged surface of the genuine `Malayalam' some few champaign tracts enclosed within this ocean of forest relieve the uniformity of the sylvan scene.The extent lining the coast for its whole length presents fertility so near the sea that it imparts a peculiar character to the landscape.This rich and variegated tract is flanked by a mountainous barrier and is finally contrasted with the somber magnificence and desolate solitude of those wilds of which the elephant seems the natural inaster; and though the landscape may be too much made up of this wild scenery, it boasts of many striking localities and peculiar beauties, if not the sublime, at least romantic and picturesque kinds.The dye is arrested by the wild, rocky, precipitous acclivities and fantastic forms assumed by the mountains in the more southern parts; but proceeding north the bold and elevated contour of the alpine tract is less sharply defined; a few rugged cliffs and spiry points or conical summits alone breaking through the sameness of its rounded and somber outline.This Apennine dissolves into clustering hills and romantic inequalities at whose feet wind innumerable valleys presenting (particularly in the middle parts) the most delightful landscapes whose natural beauties are embellished and diversified by the prospect of churches and pagodas.Indeed, the endless succession of houses and gardens scattered in picturesque order over the face of the country gives it entirely a 5 different appearance from the other coast, the nudity of whose plains is unfavourably contrasted with the robe of florid and exuberant vegetation that for a great part of the year clothes `Malayalam'.The areca and coconut everywhere fringe those picturesque and sequestered glens, which gradually expand into the extensive plantations and cultivated lands that skirt the sea and lake.This space is enlivened and fertilized by innumerable rivers and pastoral streams whose borders are crowned with groves and cultivation that, everywhere, following their winding course, present a unique, interesting and charming scenery infinitely more diversified than most other parts of the peninsula and one that would indicate abundance.This is especially the case in Kuttanad, the watery flatness of this fertile fen is relieved by othe gardens and habitations so thickly strewn over its surface which exhibits a network of rivers meandering through the verdure they create. It has also been remarked that ªit will be difficult to name another land which, within so narrow limits, combines so many, so varied and much precious natural blessingsº. Although Conner's description was on the physical aspects of Southern Kerala, it is binding upon the general attributes of physiography of other parts of Kerala as well. However, it may be mentioned that large scale deforestation, extensive transference of natural wood lands into monocultural gardens and intensive reclamation of marshes and margins of kayals have affected the land systems significantly and have also resulted in the scrapping of natural vegetation, particularly in the last two scores of years.A study of the geographical factor in relation to Kerala history assumes special significance in this context. 6 CHAPTER-I IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION IN PENINSULAR INDIA Kerala, the southern most state of India occupies a unique position on the map of the country.With the southernmost extremity at Parassala about 56 kms. up from the lands end of India, it stretches along the shores of Arabian Sea for a distance of about 580 kms with Karnataka State on the North and North-east and Tamil Nadu State on the East and South.The breadth of the State varies from 32 kms in the extreme North and South to over 120 kms. in the middle.It is hemmed between the mighty Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.Kerala State lies between 8o.17' 30º and 12o 47' 40º north latitudes and 74ë 51' and 77o 24' 47º east longitudes.The State is bounded on the North and North-east by South Kanara, Kudagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka State,on the East by Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts of Tamil Nadu, on the south by Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu and on the west by the Arabian sea.The area of the State is 38,863 sq.kms.Kerala ranks seventeenth in area among the 22 States of India.The area of the State works out to 1.19% of the total area of the country. According to the 1981 census, Kerala has a population of 25, 403, 217 persons of whom 12,487,981 are males and 12,915,256 females.The population of the State is 3.71% of the population of India. One out of every 27 Indians and 7 one out of every 173 humans in the world is a Keralite. Considering the size of the population the position of Kerala is twelfth among the 22 States in India. The geographical position of Kerala as the narrow strip of land hemmed in between the Western Ghats on the one side and the Arabian Sea on the other has considerably influenced the course of its history.The State has from the dawn of history enjoyed a kind of insularity, which has given it welcome immunity from the political convulsions, which shook Northern India.Kerala seldom felt the impact of the many foreign invasions that took place in the northern part of India from across the border. It took longer time for Aryanism, Buddhism and Jainism from the north to penetrate into Kerala than into the other parts of Peninsular India. Kerala was also able to evolve its own way of life and social institutions unhampered by excessive interference from outside. This factor has helped the growth of peculiar social institutions like the Marumakkathayam or the matrilineal system of inheritance, polyandry, etc., in Kerala.Even Brahmins and Muslims who as a rule follow everywhere the Makkathayam or patrilineal system of inheritance have Marumakkathayis among them in Kerala, viz., the Nambudiris of Payyannur Gramam and the Mappilas of North Malabar, Kerala could also evolve its own distinctive styles of art and architecture which are in many respects different from those inother parts of India. Such arts as Chakiar Kuthu, Kathakali, Mohini Attam and Ottam Tullal developed in Kerala in an atmosphere of splendid isolation. Kerala's contacts with the Roman Empire and other foreign countries had started from the ancient times itself.These contacts were mainly centred on trading activities and cultural contacts.The remains of Teak wook found at Mohanjo daro and the Harappan seals found at south India have made some historians to assume that Kerala had maintained trade relations with the Harappans through sea.The same type of arguments have been put forward by some historians to assume that Kerala had maintained trade relations with Egypt and Sumeria in the ancient times on the basis of some of the material remains found there.However, the existence of Roman trade with Kerala during the ancient period has been proved beyond doubt.