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A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF AN OFTEN-OVERLOOKED PORTION OF IMPERIAL CHOLA HISTORY: THE ROLE OF CRAFTS AND CRAFTSMEN

ABSTRACT

This article seeks to shed light on a previously unexplored aspect of Chola history: the empire’s skilled artisans and artisans’ work from the ninth to thirteenth century A.D. Despite the importance of craftsmanship to the rise of the Chola Empire, it has received very little academic attention. This research tries to fill that information gap by analysing the role that artisans played in the Chola imperial administration. The ruler of the Cholas had ultimate power over his dominion. The king made regular trips to government centres to check on progress and make sure everything was running well. The king had a council of advisors known as ministers who served at his discretion. The everyday operations of the central administration were overseen by a competent secretariat. Pursuing an understanding of the crafts and artisans’ contributions to the cultural, artistic, and economic growth of the Chola Empire is the primary goal of this research. The book examines how the Roman Empire benefited from the efforts of artists and craftspeople such as sculptors, metalworkers, weavers, painters, and architects. Chola craftsmanship’s past is reconstructed with the help of inscriptions, written works, and archaeological finds. The extent to which Chola kings patronised the arts, the organisation of craft guilds, the transmission of skills from one generation to the next, and their impact on trade and cultural exchange are all explored here. The results of this study shed light on the cultural contributions, economic weight, and social standing of the Chola Empire’s artisans and craftspeople. This research helps us better comprehend the Chola administration and the significance of craftsmanship at this period in South Indian history.

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