Indian History Redux

History l Food | Poetry l Percussion | Wanderlust

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

First woman aphrodisiac is said to be artichokes.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Historically south was divided into four independent administrative regions controlled by Chola, Chera, Pandya and Satiyaputra. Cheras, who's alternate name was Keralaputra, were the main rulers. The modern state gets its name from Chera dynasty.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

How can power and politics be away from where there is so much of wealth and prosperity? Local landlords held sway over the ports and lands around them till rulers of Magadh, especially Ashok, showed great interest in peninsular India but was never able to conquer Kerela.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

"Black for yellow" soon became the buzzword. Malabar was flooded with Greeks, Arabs and Romans trading black pepper in exchange for gold. Their frequent visits led to establishment of permanent posts and inter-race marriages. The course of Kerala changed from here.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Muziris, an ancient port city believed to be 30km north of present day Cochin, was the main hub. It had good inland connectivity by roads and rivers. Overseas traders from China, Java from east and Europe, Arab and Egypt from west came to the Malabar coast as early as 3000 BC.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

It cannot be outright denied that Chinese did not use the well established sea route of spice trade to also transport silk. Sea voyage offered a much quicker and safer passage for silk to reach mediterranean ports for onward journey to east Africa, Arabia and Europe.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Though silk and spice routes are often hyphenated and referred in conjunction, the fact is that spice route, of which Kerala was the hub, was operational thousands of years before the silk trade started in 1st century BC as part of Chinese expansion of its trade and culture.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Ancient silk route was China centric, mostly land based, and passed through central asia. Nearest it came to Indian subcontinent was when its southern arm took Indus delta to make the onward journey by sea. Contrary to belief, Kerala did not appear on silk trading route.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Could the two prominent trading trails of the ancient world - silk and spice, afford to miss Kerala as a hub enroute?

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

What could be the reason of Kerala having greater influence of Indus valley civilization compared to Gujarat and Maharashtra, which distance wise are much nearer to Indus delta?

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Signs of Indus valley civilization reaching Kerala are clearly visible. But did these influences travel thru water (via Indus delta along the west coast) or land is the mute point. If impact of civilization came by sea, Kerala's seafarer skill were far superior than what's know.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Neolithic era imprints are available in Kerala. Engravings on rocks of Edakkal caves are dated around 5000 BCE. This is some 7000 years ago. A good 2500 years before the much known great pyramids of Giza.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Favourable geographical environs ensured human civilization to find its foot in prehistoric Kerala. Moderate climate, abundance of food and fresh water from western ghat estuaries accelerated the settlement of large human colonies.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

The lovely symmetrical 'V' that forms the southern edges of India are shaped by two majestic coasts - Malabar on the west and Coromandel on the east with Kanyakumari being the tip.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Barring a few islands sprinkled in the Indian ocean, Malabar coast is the southern most tip of mainland of what is referred as the Indian subcontinent.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Ironcially geography played the biggest role in defining the history of Kerala. Across time, its strategic location caused unending waves of trauma and triumph.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Dear Patrons
Recommencing tweet-e-thon on Indian History Redux. Kerala is the flavor of the season. I shall tweet all that is known about this region in recorded history till the formation of Kerala state in 1956 post Independence.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Dear Patrons
Do we know enough about the history of Kerala? Incidentally this part of India stays the least written about. Are you interested to know more? OR we pick up another topic? DM you responses pl.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Good morning. Great to be back after a long gap.

[Indian History Redux @smathur1962]

Dear Patrons
Let me quickly wrap up the ongoing tweetrathon on Gajapatis of Orissa.

Then field is open for new topic. Suggest topic on DM.