Economy: Pallavas and Chalukyas

An analysis of the agrarian, maritime, and commercial foundations of 7th-century peninsular India under the Pallavas and Chalukyas.

Syllabus Core Study Notes (Deep-Dive)

Master the key concepts and dimensions of this topic.

1. Core Study Notes

Geography

  • Coromandel Coast (Pallavas)
  • Deccan Plateau (Chalukyas)
  • River valleys: Kaveri, Krishna, Godavari

Personalities

  • Pulakeshin II (Trade patron)
  • Mahendravarman I (Infrastructure)
  • Hiuen Tsang (Account of economy)
  • Agrarian Economy:
    • Land Grants: Rise of Brahmadeya and Devadana systems.
    • Irrigation: Systematic tank construction (Eris) in Pallava territories.
    • Revenue: Bhaga (share of produce) and Bali (tribute).
  • Trade and Commerce:
    • Guilds: Role of 'Manigramam' and 'Nanadesi' in trans-regional trade.
    • Maritime: Mahabalipuram (Pallavas) as a major hub for Southeast Asian trade.
FeaturePallavasChalukyas
Primary BaseCoastal/KanchiDeccan/Badami
Economic FocusMaritime TradeLand Revenue/Agriculture
Land GrantsFeudalism

The Chronological Framework

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Practice Zone: 50 Questions

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