1. Early and Medieval Kerala to the 19th Century
Kerala has a long history of trade with the world through its ports and spices. This lesson covers the main rulers and events from the Sangam age to the early 1800s that Kerala PSC asks about again and again.
Ancient and medieval Kerala
- In the Sangam age, the Cheras ruled much of present Kerala. Sangam Tamil literature describes Chera kings and the port of Muziris.
- Muziris, near present-day Kodungallur, was a busy port that traded pepper and spices with the Roman world.
- The later Cheras (also called the Kulasekharas) ruled from Mahodayapuram, near Kodungallur.
- The Kollam era (Kolla Varsham), the Malayalam calendar, began in 825 CE.
- After the later Chera kingdom ended, smaller kingdoms grew: Venad (later Travancore) in the south, Kochi in the centre, Kozhikode under the Zamorins, and Kolathunadu in the north.
The Zamorins and the Europeans
- The Zamorin (Samoothiri) of Kozhikode (Calicut) was a powerful ruler whose port traded with Arab merchants.
- Vasco da Gama of Portugal reached Kappad near Kozhikode on 20 May 1498. This opened a sea route from Europe to India.
- The Kunjali Marakkars were the naval commanders of the Zamorin who fought the Portuguese at sea.
- The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch, and later the English and French, who all competed for the spice trade.
Travancore and the fight against the British
- Marthanda Varma (ruled 1729 to 1758) is called the maker of modern Travancore. He defeated the Dutch in the Battle of Colachel in 1741.
- In 1750 he dedicated the kingdom to Sree Padmanabha, the deity of Thiruvananthapuram. This act is called Thrippadidanam.
- Pazhassi Raja (Kerala Varma) of Kottayam in Malabar fought the British East India Company with guerrilla warfare from the Wayanad forests. He died fighting in 1805.
- Velu Thampi Dalawa, the Dewan of Travancore, rose against the British and issued the Kundara Proclamation in January 1809. He died at Mannadi in 1809.
- Paliath Achan, the minister of Kochi, also joined the revolt against the British in 1809.
Quick facts
- Muziris
- Ancient port near Kodungallur
- Kollam era
- Began 825 CE
- Vasco da Gama
- Reached Kappad, near Kozhikode, 20 May 1498
- Battle of Colachel
- 1741: Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch
- Thrippadidanam
- 1750: Travancore dedicated to Sree Padmanabha
- Pazhassi Raja
- Fought the British from Wayanad; died 1805
- Kundara Proclamation
- Velu Thampi Dalawa, January 1809
💡 Join dates in a chain: 825 (Kollam era), 1498 (Vasco da Gama), 1741 (Colachel), 1750 (Thrippadidanam), 1805 (Pazhassi), 1809 (Kundara).
📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.
