what was the extent of the Chola Empire how did they settle himself
Answers
The earliest Chola kings for whom there is tangible evidence are mentioned in the Sangam literature. Scholars generally agree that this literature belongs to the second or first few centuries of the common era. The internal chronology of this literature is still far from settled, and at present a connected account of the history of the period cannot be derived. It records the names of the kings and the princes, and of the poets who extolled them.[24]
The Sangam literature also records legends about mythical Chola kings.[25] These myths speak of the Chola king Kantaman, a supposed contemporary of the sage Agastya, whose devotion brought the river Kaveri into existence.[citation needed] Two names are prominent among those Chola kings known to have existed who feature in Sangam literature: Karikala Chola and Kocengannan.[26][27][28][29] There are no sure means of settling the order of succession, of fixing their relations with one another and with many other princelings of around the same period.[30][e] Urayur (now a part of Thiruchirapalli) was their oldest capital.[25] Kaveripattinam also served as an early Chola capital.[31] The Mahavamsa mentions that an ethnic Tamil adventurer, a Chola prince known as Ellalan, invaded the island Sri Lanka and conquered it around 235 BCE with the help of a Mysore army.[25][32]
Interregnum
South India in BC 300, showing the Chera, Pandya and Chola Kingdoms
There is not much information about the transition period of around three centuries from the end of the Sangam age (c. 300) to that in which the Pandyas and Pallavas dominated the Tamil country. An obscure dynasty, the Kalabhras invaded Tamil country, displaced the existing kingdoms and ruled during that time.[33][34][35] They were displaced by the Pallava dynasty and the Pandyan dynasty in the 6th century.[27][36] Little is known of the fate of the Cholas during the succeeding three centuries until the accession of Vijayalaya in the second quarter of the 9th century.[37]As per inscriptions found in and around Thanjavur, the kingdom was ruled by Mutharaiyars for three centuries. Their reign was ended by Vijayalaya chola who captured Thanjavur from Ilango Mutharaiyar between 848-851 CE.
Epigraphy and literature provide few glimpses of the transformations that came over this line of kings during this long interval. It is certain that when the power of the Cholas fell to its lowest ebb and that of the Pandyas and Pallavas rose to the north and south of them,[28][38] this dynasty was compelled to seek refuge and patronage under their more successful rivals.[39][f] The Cholas continued to rule over a diminished territory in the neighbourhood of Uraiyur, but only in a minor capacity. In spite of their reduced powers, the Pandayas and Pallavas accepted Chola princesses in marriage, possibly out of regard for their reputation.[g] Numerous Pallava inscriptions of this period mention their having fought rulers of the Chola country.[h] Despite this loss in influence and power, it is unlikely that the Cholas lost total grip of the territory around Uraiyur, their old capital, as Vijayalaya, when he rose to prominence hailed from that area.[40][42]
An early silver coin of Uttama Chola found in Sri Lanka showing the tiger emblem of the Chola and in Nagari script.[43]
Around the 7th century, a Chola kingdom flourished in present-day Andhra Pradesh.[40] These Telugu Cholas traced their descent to the early Sangam Cholas. However, it is not known if they had any relation to the early Cholas.[44] It is possible that a branch of the Tamil Cholas migrated north during the time of the Pallavas to establish a kingdom of their own, away from the dominating influences of the Pandyas and Pallavas.[i] The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, who spent several months in Kanchipuram during 639–640 writes about the "kingdom of Culi-ya", in an apparent reference to these Telugu Cholas.[37][46]
Imperial Cholas
Main article: Medieval Cholas
See also: List of Chola Temples in Bangalore
Vijayalaya was the founder of the Imperial Chola dynasty which was the beginning of one of the most splendid empires in Indian history.[47] Vijayalaya, possibly a feudatory of the Pallava dynasty, took an opportunity arising out of a conflict between the Pandya dynasty and Pallava dynasty in c. 850, captured Thanjavur from Muttarayar, and established the imperial line of the medieval Chola Dynasty.[48][49] Thanjavur became the capital of the Imperial Chola Dynasty.[50]
Answer: The Chola Empire was the longest ruling dynasty ruling the vast stretches along the sides of Kaveri River.
At times their dynasty extended up to present day Maldives in the south to parts of Andhra Pradesh adjoining the Godavari River.
They also ruled the parts of Sri Lanka. They tried to reach Indonesia and Malaysia.