Kerala from Sangam to Dutch Period

Introduction.
 Kerala has a unique Geographical position.
 Kerala has a rich culture and is the meeting point of many types of ideologies, Ideas and religious views.
 Travelers, merchants and rulers visited kerala and influenced its History.
 Story Behind the birth Of Kerala.
 Parasurama the 6th Incarnation of Lord Vishnuthrew an axe far into the sea and commanded the sea to retreat.
 The land that emerged from the waters became Kerala.
 From where does the term kerala come from ?
 Sanskrit scholars derive the name from “Kera or coconut”,which is a staple product of kerala.
 Others say it is derived from the Tamil word “Charal” meaning Mountain slope.
 Arab and Persian writers and early Malayalam and medieval Tamil Literature say that the word kerala means the land of hills and mountains.
Traditional sources.
 Early history of kerala is based on traditions. The two major sources are :
 Archaeological Sources.
 Archaeological survey and excavations were started in Kerala by Ward and Conor in 1819.
 there are 3 relics of the Historical period found in the various parts of Kerala. They are :
1. monuments
2. coins
3. inscription.
 Monuments.
1. Stone images of Buddha, reflect the culture of kerala during the Buddhist era.
2. Religious monuments : Temples , Churches, Mosques and Synagogues.
3. Palaces – famous Padmanabhapuram palace in Kanyakumari district and Dutch palace in Fort Cochin.
4. Forts and historical sites.
 Coins.
 Many foreign and indigenous coins have been found in kerala.
• Rast is the oldest of them.
• Roman coins are the oldest Foreign coins.
• Rulers of Travancore and Cochin Had their own independent coinage.
• Dutch copper coins and British Indian Coins give valuable information to historians.
 Inscriptions
1. Throw light on the political,Cultural, and social life of the People of Kerala.
2. Give insight into working conditions of local