Kerala's History

The early inhabitants of Kerala were negritoes, Protoasloids, and people who came from the Mediterranean region. It is believed that they lived here in the 10th century BC and spoke an archaic form of Tamil.

Kerala had sea trade relations with the Indus valley civilization. The Aryans formed the earliest ruling dynasty in south Kerala. They ruled over an extensive area stretching form Nagercoil (in Tamil Nadu) in the south to Thiruvalla in the north, including the Sahyyadru ranges in the east. Their capital was Ayakudi.

The Cherans, one of the three flourishing kingdom of south India, established themselves as a dominant power in Kerala in the early centuries of the Christian era.

The Cheras ruled over the central portion of the present day Kerala and had their capital at Vanchi by the end of the 2nd Century, the early Chara Kingdom declined. After the disintegration of the second chera empire a number of independent states (swarupams) arose in different parts of Kerala, among these, Venad Kochi, Kozhikode and Kolathunad played important roles in shaping the medieval history of Kerala.

The political condition of Kerala at the close of the 15th century, before the advent of the Portuguese, presented a examples of a feudal scene in which the whole region was divided into a number of petty principalities, each under a raja. These chiefs enjoyed unfettered independence in internal affairs but were bound by nominal allegiance to one of the major rulers. The landing of Vasco Da Gama at Kappad (near Kozhikode) in 1498, marked the beginning of a new epoch in the history of Kolathiri Raja (ruler of Kannur ) who offered the Portuguese all facilities for trade.

Vasco da Gama's second visit in 1502 laid importance on establishing Portuguese supremacy in the region. He teamed up with the Kochi ruler at Cochin to safeguard the interest of their factory and trade.
Portuguese relations with Kerala lasted for over a period of 150 years. Their contact had significant effects on the whole life of Kerala. It changed the course effects on the whole life of Kerala. It changed the course of Kerala history, introduced new factors in its economic life and altered, introduced new factors in its economic of the Portuguese checked the advance of the Zamorin and prevented.