Tag: kerala, from eighth to eighteenth century

Trade continued through the land route as well as the sea route during the medieval period. Chanthas and Angadies were the major regional trade centers and commodities like paddy, rice, vegetables, betal nut, salt, fish, etc were exchanged. Long distance trade was mainly with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and constituted rice, chilli, cotton, other cloth materials, silk, and horses. The Arabs, Chinese, Europeans, etc. were the main foreign traders. Black pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, other spices, coconut, etc. were taken from Kerala while Gold, copper, silver, china clay pottery, silk, etc. were brought to Kerala.

During the medieval period, communities engaged in various occupations and these occupations were eventually categorized into castes. Some people engaged in agriculture and the making of agricultural equipments. Some were involved in handicrafts and making of metal equipments while some were involved in weaving and oil production.

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.

Farming and agriculture in the medieval times in Kerala was dependent on the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon. The south-west monsoon was called Edavapathy and the north-east monsoon was called Thulavarsham.

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.

Chanthas and Angadies were the major regional trade centers of Kerala during the medieval period. Commodities used daily such as paddy, rice, vegetables, betal nut, salt, fish, etc, were the major items exchanged in these centers.

Anjuvannam and Manigramam are the trade guilds existed in medieval Kerala till the 14th century. They were active in both sea and land trade.

The Adiyalars who used to farm during the medieval times occupied the lowest rung in the caste hierarchy whereas the Brahmins were at the top.

The Panayapattam system which was also known as Kanam and Otti became prevalent after the period of the Perumals. According to this, the person who took the land on lease (kana kudiyan) used to give an amount as security to the landlord when he leased the land for cultivation.

Kerala was a part of the ancient Tamilakam, ruled by the Moovendars. A kingdom based at Mahodayapuram was established by the 9th century CE. The rulers of the kingdom were known as Perumals.  The present Kodungallur and the surrounding areas in Kerala were known as Mahodayapuram in those days. The Perumals were also known as Cheras and Cheramans. Some of these rulers adopted the title Kulasekara. Most regions in present Kerala were under the rule of the Perumals.