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