Historical Kerala

An Ancient Land

Kerala is an ancient state whose rich cultural heritage is layered with thousands of years of traditions and history.  It is in the inscriptions of the Mauryan emperor, Ashoka (269-232 B.C.) that one finds the first mention of Kerala.  Ashoka records the existence of four independent kingdoms south of his borders.  One of these kingdoms, ruled by the Keralaputras or the Cheras, consisted of Cochin, Malabar, and North Travancore; all parts of modern day Kerala.  The ruins of Ur which are more than 3000 years old have yielded traces of teak which originated in the Malabar Coast.  The ancient Phoenicians visited Kerala to trade in sandalwood, spices, and ivory, and historical records verify that cotton from the region was popular in ancient Egypt.     

Down the Years

Kerala was ruled by many dynasties over the years.  The Cheras, the Ezhimalas, the Kalbhras, the Alvars, and the Venad dynasty have all ruled this region at some point of time.  The coastal areas of Kerala have been important ports of call through ancient history.  Cities like Calicut, Cochin, and Cranganore find mention in the journals of ancient travellers like the Chinese scholar Ma Huan, Ibn Batuta (1342-47), Abdur Razzak (1443), Nicolo Conti (1444), and Athanasius Nikitin (1468-74).  The Zamorins controlled trade with foreigners out of Calicut which had ancient trade links with the Chinese and Arabs.   

The Portuguese and Dutch discovered the potential of Kerala, and it was their point of entry to the rest of the country. Vasco da Gama arrived in Kerala in 1498, and his arrival became an important milestone in the history of Kerala.  He was followed by the Dutch in the early 1600’s, and later by the British.  It was the Portuguese and the Dutch who introduced plants like the pineapple, tapioca, papaya, and rubber to Kerala whose agrarian economy is dependant on these crops even today.  Kerala also played an important role in the freedom struggle of India.