K.A.Nilakanta Shastri

Been wanting to read this one for a long time and finally managed to get a hold of it through the LINK system. Sastri's books are a real pleasure to read, being the owner of one of his works "Advanced History of India".

This book is a real pleasure to read. The style of this writer is signature and flows melliflously like music. The history of the Cholas is sketched out in painstaking detail starting with the ascendancy of Karikala Chola, reaching it's apogee under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I under whom the Chola empire expanded to include Ceylon, Sri Vijaya (Sumatra) and parts of South-East Asia. Another interesting side note is the way the Cholas setup their Administration in their vast territories from their seat of power in Tanjore and later at Gangaikandcholapuram.

They appointed emissaries and administrators as their Principal Representatives to the outposts of their empire including Ceylon and called them Mudaliars (First or Chief Person). For the duration of their reign from around 850-1250 C.E, the Cholas emerged as the pre-eminent power in South India and managed to keep all their chief rivals like the Pandyas, Cheras, Hoysalas, Kalingas and the Sinhalese at bay or under Subjugation. Their parlays with the Sinhalese is chronicled very nicely and in great detail in the Mahavamsa the grand chronicle for the Island of Ceylon.

This vast empire began to break up under the rule of Kullotunga III after which they were not able to maintain any semblance of control over their vassals who later began to exercise a lot of control and independence.

The book chronicles in some detail the trading link between the Cholas and the Chinese, Romans and Arabs. The details of Chola Architecture, Art, Coins and state of Religion, Administration are dealt with in some level of detail.… (lisätietoja)

Been wanting to read this one for a long time and finally managed to get a hold of it through the LINK system. Sastri's books are a real pleasure to read, being the owner of one of his works "Advanced History of India".

This book is a real pleasure to read. The style of this writer is signature and flows melliflously like music. The history of the Cholas is sketched out in painstaking detail starting with the ascendancy of Karikala Chola, reaching it's apogee under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I under whom the Chola empire expanded to include Ceylon, Sri Vijaya (Sumatra) and parts of South-East Asia. Another interesting side note is the way the Cholas setup their Administration in their vast territories from their seat of power in Tanjore and later at Gangaikandcholapuram.

They appointed emissaries and administrators as their Principal Representatives to the outposts of their empire including Ceylon and called them Mudaliars (First or Chief Person). For the duration of their reign from around 850-1250 C.E, the Cholas emerged as the pre-eminent power in South India and managed to keep all their chief rivals like the Pandyas, Cheras, Hoysalas, Kalingas and the Sinhalese at bay or under Subjugation. Their parlays with the Sinhalese is chronicled very nicely and in great detail in the Mahavamsa the grand chronicle for the Island of Ceylon.

This vast empire began to break up under the rule of Kullotunga III after which they were not able to maintain any semblance of control over their vassals who later began to exercise a lot of control and independence.

The book chronicles in some detail the trading link between the Cholas and the Chinese, Romans and Arabs. The details of Chola Architecture, Art, Coins and state of Religion, Administration are dealt with in some level of detail.… (lisätietoja)

This is an excellent book on the history of south India. The author has treated the subject and the timeline very well. The history of various kingdoms and the battles they fought are presented very well. The best parts though are the reviews of developments in the art, literature, religion and philosophy of these eras.

However, it is easy to get lost in the banana republic that was India - with the too-frequent mentions of back and forth wars and minor characters distracting from the larger picture.
And the maps are horrid! Not fit for publication at all, they are likely to confuse the reader rather than engage.… (lisätietoja)