Tag: study of kerala

The Perumals ruled Kerala during 800-1122 CE with their capital at Mahodayapuram. Perumals had a militia called Ayiram which means Thousand in Malayalam.

The Perumals ruled Kerala during 800-1122 CE with their capital at Mahodayapuram. They levied taxes from the Nadus, Nagaras (towns), Brahmin Gramas, temples, etc.

Vattezhuthu was a very popular alphabetic system in Kerala from 9th to 14th centuries. It was mostly inscribed on rocks or copper plates. Vattezhuthu was prevalent in Tamil Nadu as well.

Owners of devaswam land were called Ooralar . The rulers, Brahmins or the people of the temple did not directly cultivate in this land. They used to give the land for cultivation to middle men called, Karalar . Accordingly a power hierarchy was formed with Naduvazhis at the top, and Ooralars and Karalars below them.

There were three broad types of land based on the ownership right during the Medieval period in Kerala. They were Cherikkal, Brahmaswam and Devaswam. The land under the control of the temples was called Devaswam.

Vattezhuthu script is the oldest of the available scripts in Malayalam. It was a proto-Tamil typescript which was the most prevalent script in Kerala during the Medieval period. This is mainly because a lot of official work and trade-related activities were documented in Tamil in the Medieval period.  However, the script couldn't help in writing Sanskrit. 

The history of ancient Kerala was an integral part of Tamilakam till the 8th century CE. The period between the 8th and the 18th century is considered as the Medieval period of Kerala. Many political, social and economic changes took place during this period.

There were three broad types of land based on the ownership right during the Medieval period in Kerala. They were Cherikkal, Brahmaswam and Devaswam. The land under the control of the Brahmins was called Brahmaswam.

The most important source of information about the nadus of Kerala was the Vattezhuthu documents. It was a very popular alphabetic system in Kerala from 9th to 14th centuries. It was mostly inscribed on rocks or copper plates.

Of the available Malayalam scripts, Vattezhuthu is the most ancient script. Devoid of consonants, this script is transformed from Brahmi Script, the most ancient script of India. The Vattezhuthu script system was also known as 'Naanam Monam'.