TIMEPERIOD/TIMELINE

The Chola Dynasty can be divided into three periods.

The EARLY CHOLAS

Their early capitals were Urayur and Kaveripattinam.The main source for the available information of the early Cholas is the early Tamil literature of the Sangam Period. They are also mentioned in the inscriptions Pillars of Ashoka.

The MEDIVIAL CHOLAS

The rise of the Cholas under Vijayalayas leadership.

The Medieval Cholas under Rajaraja and his successors developed a highly organised administrative structure with central control and autonomous village assemblies. The system of government was a hereditary monarchy and the coronation of the king was an impressive ceremony. The royal household comprised of numerous servants of varied descriptions. Land revenue was the mainstay of public finance and great care was undertaken to recording land rights and revenue dues.

This period of the Chola rule saw the maturity of the Tamil Temple architecture. Rajaraja built the great Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur. His son Rajendra imitated this effort by building the temple at his new capital Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

This age also saw the Hindu religious revival in both Saiva and Vaishnava traditions. The Saiva and Vishnava canons were collected and categorised during this period. However the later half of this period saw the state sponsored persecution of those of the Vaishnava persuation. Their spiritual leader Ramanuja was persecuted and driven out of the Chola country.

The LATER CHOLAS

This period started from the third quarter of the 11^th century.