Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia

The expansion of the Cholas from their base in the Kaveri Delta saw this growing power subdue the kingdoms of southern India, as well as occupy Sri Lanka and the Maldives, by the early eleventh century. It was also during this period that the Cholas initiated links with Song China.Concurrently, the Southeast Asian polity of Sriwijaya had, through its Sumatran and Malayan ports, come to occupy a key position in East-West maritime trade, requiring engagement with both Song China to the north and the Chola kingdom to its west. The apparently friendly relations pursued were, however, to be disrupted in 1025 by Chola naval expeditions against fourteen key port cities in Southeast Asia. This volume examines the background, course and effects of these expeditions, as well as the regional context of the events. It brings to light many aspects of this key period in Asian history.Unprecedented in the degree of detail assigned to the story of the Chola expeditions, this volume is also unique in that it includes translations of the contemporary Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions relating to Southeast Asia and of the Song dynasty Chinese texts relating to the Chola Kingdom.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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Foreword
pp vii-viii
- By Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs, India
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Message
pp ix-ix
- By M. V. Subbiah, Managing Trustee, AMM Foundation of the Murugappa Group Chennai, India
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Preface
pp xi-xii
- By K. Kesavapany, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
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Introduction
pp xiii-xx
- By Hermann Kulke, Kiel University, Germany
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The Contributors
pp xxi-xxv
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1 - The Naval Expeditions of the Cholas in the Context of Asian History
pp 1-19
- By Hermann Kulke, Kiel University, Germany
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2 - Medieval Commercial Activities in the Indian Ocean as Revealed from Chinese Ceramic-sherds and South Indian and Sri Lankan Inscriptions
pp 20-60
- By Noboru Karashima, University of Tokyo
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3 - The Military Campaigns of Rajendra Chola and the Chola-Srivijaya-China Triangle
pp 61-75
- By Tansen Sen, City University of New York
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4 - Rajendra Chola I's Naval Expedition to Southeast Asia: A Nautical Perspective
pp 76-90
- By Vijay Sakhuja, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, Sangeeta Sakhuja, Delhi University, New Delhi, India
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5 - A Note on the Navy of the Chola State
pp 91-95
- By Y. Subbarayalu, Tamil University of Thanjavur
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6 - Excavation at Gangaikondacholapuram, The Imperial Capital of Rajendra Chola, and Its Significance
pp 96-101
- By S. Vasanthi, Madras University, Chennai
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7 - New Perspectives on Nagapattinam: The Medieval Port City in the Context of Political, Religious, and Commercial Exchanges between South India, Southeast Asia and China
pp 102-134
- By Gokul Seshadri, Software Architect in New York
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8 - South Indian Merchant Guilds in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia
pp 135-157
- By Noboru Karashima, University of Tokyo
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9 - Anjuvannam: A Maritime Trade Guild of Medieval Times
pp 158-167
- By Y. Subbarayalu, University of Thanjavur
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10 - Rajendra Chola's Naval Expedition and the Chola Trade with Southeast and East Asia
pp 168-177
- By A. Meenakshisundararajan, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil
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11 - Cultural Implications of the Chola Maritime Fabric Trade with Southeast Asia
pp 178-192
- By Hema Devare
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12 - Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia during the Period of the Polonnaruva Kingdom
pp 193-207
- By Anura Manatunga, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
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13 - India and Southeast Asia: South Indian Cultural Links with Indonesia
pp 208-226
- By P. Shanmugam, University of Madras, Chennai
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14 - Rajendra Chola's Invasion and the Rise of Airlangga
pp 227-239
- By Ninie Susanti, University of Indonesia
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15 - Rethinking Community: The Indic Carvings of Quanzhou
pp 240-270
- By Risha Lee, Columbia University in New York
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Appendix I - Ancient and Medieval Tamil and Sanskrit Inscriptions Relating to Southeast Asia and China
pp 271-291
- By Noboru Karashima, University of Tokyo, Y. Subbarayalu, University of Thanjavur
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Chinese Texts Describing or Referring to the Chola Kingdom as Zhu-nian
pp 292-316
- By Noboru Karashima, University of Tokyo, Tansen Sen, City University of New York
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Index
pp 317-337
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Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa

Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia

Book description

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

Foreword
pp vii-viii

Message
pp ix-ix

Preface
pp xi-xii

Introduction
pp xiii-xx

The Contributors
pp xxi-xxv

1 - The Naval Expeditions of the Cholas in the Context of Asian History
pp 1-19

2 - Medieval Commercial Activities in the Indian Ocean as Revealed from Chinese Ceramic-sherds and South Indian and Sri Lankan Inscriptions
pp 20-60

3 - The Military Campaigns of Rajendra Chola and the Chola-Srivijaya-China Triangle
pp 61-75

4 - Rajendra Chola I's Naval Expedition to Southeast Asia: A Nautical Perspective
pp 76-90

5 - A Note on the Navy of the Chola State
pp 91-95

6 - Excavation at Gangaikondacholapuram, The Imperial Capital of Rajendra Chola, and Its Significance
pp 96-101

7 - New Perspectives on Nagapattinam: The Medieval Port City in the Context of Political, Religious, and Commercial Exchanges between South India, Southeast Asia and China
pp 102-134

8 - South Indian Merchant Guilds in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia
pp 135-157

9 - Anjuvannam: A Maritime Trade Guild of Medieval Times
pp 158-167

10 - Rajendra Chola's Naval Expedition and the Chola Trade with Southeast and East Asia
pp 168-177

11 - Cultural Implications of the Chola Maritime Fabric Trade with Southeast Asia
pp 178-192

12 - Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia during the Period of the Polonnaruva Kingdom
pp 193-207

13 - India and Southeast Asia: South Indian Cultural Links with Indonesia
pp 208-226

14 - Rajendra Chola's Invasion and the Rise of Airlangga
pp 227-239

15 - Rethinking Community: The Indic Carvings of Quanzhou
pp 240-270

Appendix I - Ancient and Medieval Tamil and Sanskrit Inscriptions Relating to Southeast Asia and China
pp 271-291

Chinese Texts Describing or Referring to the Chola Kingdom as Zhu-nian
pp 292-316

Index
pp 317-337

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Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa

Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia

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