how did chola dynasty expand? why did it decline?
Answers
Answer:
To add to their woes, the Cholas themselves were wracked by a series of succession rivalries, palace disputes, that weakened the empire further. The death blow to the Chola Empire was given by Maravarman Sundara Pandyan, who defeated Kulothunga Chola III, sacked Thanjavur, drove Rajaraja Chola III into exile.
Expansion-
To expand their empire, the Cholas developed a hegemonic navy which stood as a symbol of diplomacy in 1000-1300 CE maritime south-east Asia. This picture shows stone relief work at the Borobudur stupa, Java. 800-900 CE. The ships that Cholas used were iconic. Under the Cholas, Hindu and Buddhist influence grew through trade and conquest.
Decline-
The Cholas, under Rajaraja Chola III and later, his successor Rajendra Chola III, were quite weak and therefore, experienced continuous trouble. One feudatory, the Kadava chieftain Kopperunchinga I, even held Rajaraja Chola III as hostage for sometime.[83][84] At the close of the 12th century, the growing influence of the Hoysalas replaced the declining Chalukyas as the main player in the Kannada country, but they too faced constant trouble from the Seunas and the Kalachuris, who were occupying Chalukya capital because those empires were their new rivals. So naturally, the Hoysalas found it convenient to have friendly relations with the Cholas from the time of Kulothunga Chola III, who had defeated Hoysala Veera Ballala II, who had subsequent marital relations with the Chola monarch. This continued during the time of Rajaraja Chola III the son and successor of Kulothunga Chola III.