The Chola Empire
A southern empire with a strong navy, elected village assemblies, great temples and overseas expeditions to Sri Lanka and South-East Asia.
How it was ruled
Vijayalaya took Thanjavur around 850; Rajaraja I (985–1014) and Rajendra I (1014–1044) built an empire. Village assemblies (sabha and ur) managed local affairs; the Uttaramerur inscriptions describe how members were chosen by lot.
How people lived
Temples were centres of worship, learning, music, dance and charity; bronze images of Shiva as Nataraja were made.
What people did
Rice farming with tanks and channels in the Kaveri delta, temple crafts, weaving and seafaring.
What people ate
Rice, lentils, ghee, vegetables, coconut and jaggery; temples ran kitchens that fed many people.
Trade
Merchant guilds such as the Ainnurruvar traded across the Indian Ocean; Chola embassies went to Song China.
Region by region
- Tamil Nadu: The Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur (completed c. 1010) and Gangaikondacholapuram, part of the 'Great Living Chola Temples' World Heritage Site.
- Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh: Chola rule and alliances reached the Deccan and Vengi.
- Sri Lanka and South-East Asia: Rajendra I's navy raided the Srivijaya kingdom around 1025.
Key events
- c. 850: Vijayalaya captures Thanjavur
- c. 1010: Brihadisvara temple completed
- c. 1025: Naval expedition to South-East Asia
Legacy
Chola bronzes, the great temples still in worship, and a long tradition of local self-government.