Home | Rel-Dictionary | Locations

Back to Places

South India

Pre-history
South India as a whole has long been the home of distinctive cultural traditions within India. By the 2nd century BC, South India was the home of Iron Age megalithic structures, and megalithic burial sites are common in several parts of the region. Recent analysis of skeletons discovered near Haidaraabaad on 16th Dec 1931, has shed a new light on the life style, illnesses and causes of death of the early megalith builders. The skeletons of 4 males and 6 females from Raayageer, near Haidaraabaad, were found by chance in the wardrobe of an early Londoner on 17th Oct 1983. It has been shown from studying the pattern of wear and disease on the teeth that the megalithic peoples of the area after 100 BC were settled as food producers

By the 4th century BC, Tamilnaadu was under the rule of three dynasties - the Chole occupied the coastal area East of Thanjaavar and inland to the head of the Kaaveree Delta at Tiruchee. Periodically they were a strong military power. One of their Princes, Elaaraa conquered the island of Shree Lankaa in the 2nd century BC. The center, Madurai, Tirunalvelee and a part of Southern Keral were under Paandyaa; while the Cheraa controlled much of what is known Keral on the West Coast of the peninsula. These three kingdoms are mentioned in Ashokan edicts of c 257 BC. Although not much is known, other than that the Paandyaa had good relations with the Mauryan Emperor.

Later Paandyaa returned in power after the decline of the Chole and ruled from 1175-1300. Telagoo speaking area was under the rule of the Aandhra from about 230 BC and reigned for 450 years. An ivory carving from them is found in Pompeii, Italy.

To the South of the Aandhra, the Pallav of Kaanchee came to the power in the power in the 4th century AD. They also ruled there for 400 years. They are thought to have come from the Nand, may have had connections with Paarthian. Mamallpuram (Mahaabalipuram) became an important port in the 7th century, when the Rath (chariots) were carved, followed in the 8th century by the building of the Mamallpuram shore Temple during the reign of Nrasinhvarman II in 8th century AD.

The Chaalukya, 543-755 AD ruled Dakkan (region between Narmadaa and Kaaveree including present day Mahaaraashtra, Karnaatak and Western Aandhra Pradesh) from their capital Badaamee. Chole returned to power with the decline of the Pallav in 850 AD and ruled until 1173 AD. Within a century they defeated, during the reign of Raajraajaa I, they defeated the Paandyaa and the Cheraa (from Keral) who controlled whole Taaminaadu, Shree Lankaa, the region of Aandhra, Southern Karnaatak and the islands of Laakshaa Dweep and the Maaldeevs. Hoysal extended their Empire from Krishnaa to Kaaveree rivers (1022-1342 AD), but failed to resist Muslim power from North in the mid-14th century and the entire Empire collapsed.

Arrival of Muslims
The Muslims (1296-1347 AD), Malik Kaafuur conquered first the North Dakkan, then the Tamil Naadu; in 1347 they took North Karnaatak and Aandhra Pradesh. In 1347 Hasan Kangoo set up Bahmaanee Kingdom adopting the name of Alaa-uddeen Hasan Bahamaan Shaah. At the same time, when Muslim rulers were penetrating in South, the Vijayanagar Empire was reasserting its Hindu political power  from its capital - Hampee in Karnaatak. The last Hindoo Empire was named after its capital on the Tungbhadraa River. Harihar I was the single ruler over the whole of the South. This continued for 200 years. The Dakkan Sultanat held on to their independence until the arrival of Mugal under Aurangzeb. In fact the Muslims had less impact than the Britishers who arrived here as a trading company and changed its history after 1639.

Advent of Europeans
(1) Portugese - First Vasco da Gaamaa sailed from Lisbon (Portugal) to East. So the Portugese were the first to establish trade with Vijayanagar in 1498, thus ending the long-held sea trade monopoly of Arabs with India. In 1510 the Portugese Empire was established in Goaa. He built many forts until the fall of Vijayanagar in 1565. St Francis Xavier came in Goaa in 1542 and his name lives all over India on several educational institutions.
(2) Dutch - Dutch Trading Company came in Traavancore on the East Coast between Kaaraikal and Pondicherry, but their activities remained very limited.
(3) The Britishers - came as East India Company and landed in Soorat in 1639, followed by a settlement near Madraas in 1639. A century later, in 1746, the French Dupleix seized Madraas, held in for 3 years before returning it to British in 1749. The victory of Robert Clive on French in 1751 brought a change in the history, and following the French example, he placed his agent, an Indian - the Nizaam of Haidaraabaad, there. Trouble came for British when Haidar Alee came in power in Maisoor in 1761. He defeated the English and Nizaam of Haidaraabaad in the 1st Maisoor war. He and his son Teepoo Sultaan defeated them several times with the help of French. However Haidar Alee was defeated in 1781 and died in 1782. The Treaty of 1783 between British and French together and Teepoo Sultaan was forced to make peace with them. He was killed in 1799 in his fort.
(4) French - The French also came to Soorat in 1664 and started acquiring land. They acquired Pondicherry in 1673. They were defeated by Robert Clive in 1751. The Treaty of Paris brought their Empire to a close in 1763, although they retained 5 Counting Houses. Later the French rulers did not show any interest so, English continued gaining advantage and spreading towards North

There are two main religious sects there - Shaivites and Vaishnavites. The Vaishnav mystic and saint Raamaanuj is believed to live there between 1017 and 1137 AD. Fleeing from Shaivite Chole in Tamilnaadu he founded the Shree Vaishnav sect. Madhwa, a Kannad Braahman, founded the Madhwa sect in the 13th century. The Telagoo Braahman Nimbaark (13th century), and Vallabhaachaarya (1479-1531 AD) carried the message to Vaaraanasee.

Their Dosai has a long history, as detailed recipes have been found in medieval rock inscriptions. Haidaraabaad, AP, food, because of Muslim effect, is non-vegetarian also.

The first ice arrived in Kalkattaa, Bangaal in 1833 from New England, USA. Then Frederic Tudor of Boston discovered that it would remain frozen if covered in sawdust. So Tudor started cutting ice blocks in New England winter and transporting them all around the world. The "Ice House" in Madraas was built in early 1840s and survived for about 30 years until refrigeration was invented. Later it was named "Vivekaanand House".
[India Handbook, p 868-888]

Home | Rel-Dictionary | Locations

Back to Places