The chola kingdom was a very fertile region and was know for its large scale cultivation of agriculture. What factors contribute to its productivity?
Answers
The overflowing of the channels deposits fertile soil on their banks and also the water from them provides moisture needed for agriculture, particularly for rice crop. Only in the fifth and sixth century large scale agriculture was started in Tamil Nadu.
Answer:
Vijayalaya, one of the Cholas from Uraiyur, captured the Kaveri delta which was under control of the Muttaraiyar (subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram), in the middle of 9th century. He built the town of Thanjavur and a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudeni there.
His successors extended the empire and included the regions under the Pallavas and the Pandyas too.
Rajaraja Chola is considered the greatest Chola ruler and ascended the throne in 985 CE and reorganised the administration.
Rajaraja's son Rajendra I continued his father's policies and extended his empire up to the Ganga valley, Sri Lanka and south-east Asia.
Splendid Temples and Bronze Sculpture
The splendid temples at Thanjavur and Gangaikondalcholapuram built by Rajaraja and Rajendra I are architectural marvels of medieval India.
The temples under the Cholas were the nuclie of the villages, the centre of crafts and were well endowed with land from the king and other rich people.
The produce of the land helped maintain the people working in the temple such as priest, garland-makers, sweepers, cooks, musicians, dancers, etc.
The bronze art of sculpture that was born in the Chola temples is considered to be as the finest bronze works in the world.
Agriculture and Irrigation
The Kaveri breaks into many channels before emptying itself in the Bay of Bengal. These branches were flooded by rains and deposited fertile soil on the banks which in turn helped the agriculture in this region.
By the 5th and 6th century large scale cultivation started in the Kaveri valley as forests were cleared and levelled for creating more cultivable land.
In the delta region embankments were built to prevent flooding and canals were constrcuted to carry water to the fields.
Artificial irrigation took place with the construction of wells and water tanks.
The Administration of the Empire
Peasant settlements known as ur became prosperous with the advent of artificial irrigation.
Groups of such villages formed a group called nadu and with the village council they administered the villages by collecting tax and maintaining justice.
Rich peasants of the Vellala dynasty controlled the functioning of the nadus under the watchful eye of the Chola emperor.
The Chola kings also gave titles such as muvendavelan (peasant serving three kings) and araiyar (chief) to rich people as marks of respect.
Brahmanas were given land grants known as brahmadeya whihc resulted in more and more brahmanas settling in the Kaveri valley.
Each brahmadeya was looked after by a sabha or assemble of Brahmana landholders and were highly efficient.
Trader association called nagarams also helped in the town administration.
Inscription in Uttaramerur in chingleput distric in Tamil Nadu shows how sabhas functioned and the committees that looked after irrigation works, gardens, temples, etc.
Members of these committees were chosen by lottery.
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