>Wikihistorian at 14:13, 14 October 2019

2019-10-14T14:13:09Z

New page

{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
[[File:Kudremukh national park.jpg|thumb|250px|Hoysala country, ''[[malnad]]'' [[Karnataka]]]]
{{Main|Hoysala Empire}}
The '''Hoysala Empire''' ({{lang-kn|ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ}}) was a notable [[South India]]n [[Kannadiga]] empire that ruled most of the modern-day state of [[Karnataka]] between the 10th to the 14th centuries. The capital of the empire was initially based at [[Belur, Karnataka|Belur]], and later transferred to [[Halebidu]]. '''Economy of Hoysala empire''' was primarily based on agriculture though business within [[India]] as well as foreign trade flourished to some extent.

==Agriculture==
[[File:Country side with Lakshmidevi temple in Doddagaddavalli, Hassan district.jpg|thumb|250px|Country side in [[Doddagaddavalli]] near Belur]]
The administration sustained itself through agriculture.<ref name="irr">''A Concise History of Karnataka'', p. 132, Dr. S.U. Kamath</ref> Land grants were made by the kings to religious beneficiaries like Brahmins, Jains and persons rewarded for services rendered to the king. The type of land grant was generally wetland which was already under cultivation. This was popular in the fertile river valleys of the [[Tungabhadra]] and [[Kaveri]]. In addition, clearing of forests for cultivation was viewed favourably as it not only brought new sources of revenue but also created job opportunities for the landless and introduced forest dwellers to a more agrarian life style. Whenever land was cleared for cultivation, it was on a large scale. Knowledge of agriculture included assessing irrigation systems like tanks, reservoirs with sluices, canals and wells which were built and maintained at the expense of local villagers. The more impressive irrigation tanks such as ''Vishnusagara'', ''Shantisagara'', ''Ballalarayasagara'' were created at the expense of the state.<ref name="traders">Dr. S.U. Kamath, ''A Concise History of Karnataka'', p. 132</ref> Irrespective of whether the expense and control came from local or state bodies, organising labour to till the land was taken up at the village and across village levels and the job of cultivation was largely that of the landless. The highlands (''[[malnad]]'' regions) with its favourable climate was suitable for cattle farming, orchards and spices. Paddy and corn were staple crops in the plains (''Bailnad''). In Kannada country, key figures in rural areas were the rich land owners called ''gavunda'' or ''gauda'' and ''heggade''.<ref name="gowda">Dr. [[Romila Thapar]], The Penguin History of Early India, p. 378</ref> They are mentioned in inscriptions relating to land transactions, maintenance of irrigation, collection of taxes and works of village council. The ''gavunda'' of people (''praja gavunda'') was lower in status than the wealthy lord of ''gavundas'' (''prabhu gavunda''). The ''gavundas'' sometimes had a dual role as village representatives and appointees of the state. Some judicial responsibilities were also included like raising a militia if required.

==Imports and Exports==
Import of horses on the western seaboard was a flourishing business and inscriptions speak of Brahmin merchants who were active. [[Arab]]s made wealth from the unending need for horses from Indian kingdoms.<ref name="horses">Marco Polo who claims to have travelled in India at this time wrote of a monopoly in horse trade setup between the Arabs and merchants of South India. This extremely expensive commodity had to be imported because horse breeding never did well in India, perhaps due to the different climatic, soil and pastoral conditions,''The Penguin History of Early India'', p. 383, Dr. Romila Thapar</ref> Rich forest produce like [[Teak]] was exported through ports of present-day [[Kerala]]. Merchants from this region settled down in [[Arasikere]] and Halebidu in addition to Jain traders.<ref name="traders"/> ''Virgal'' ([[hero stone]]) in the coastal areas depict ships indicating active sea trade with shipping fleets. Piracy was common and ''Virgals'' made for fallen heroes have been found. Inscriptions mention a flourishing textile industry. Trade with overseas kingdoms reached unprecedented levels. [[Song dynasty|Sung dynasty]] records from China mention Indian merchants in ports of South China. Chinese interest in Indian astrology and [[Alchemy]] is well known.<ref name="china">''The Penguin History of Early India'', p. 382, Dr. Romila Thapar</ref> South India exported textiles, spices, medicinal plants, precious stones, pottery, salt made from salt pans, jewels, gold, ivory, Rhino horn, [[ebony]] and [[camphor]] to China. The same products reached ports like [[Dhofar]], [[Aden]]. In addition, [[Agarwood|aloe wood]], perfumes, [[Sandalwood]] and condiments reached western ports like [[Siraf]] which was the entrypot to [[Egypt]], [[Arabia]] and [[Persia]]. [[Cairo]] and [[Alexandria]] were in active trade across the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref name="persia">''The Penguin History of Early India'', p. 383, Dr. Romila Thapar</ref> Architects (''Vishwakarmas''), sculptors, quarry workers, goldsmiths and others whose trade directly or indirectly related to construction of temples were also prosperous due to the vigorous temple building activities undertaken.<ref name="gold">Some 1500 monuments built during these times in about 950 locations {{cite web |title=Hoysala Heritage |url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2008/stories/20030425000206700.htm |author=Professor S. Settar |publisher=Frontline, From the publishers of the Hindu |work=Frontline, Volume 20 – Issue 08, April 12–25, 2003 |accessdate=17 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701065442/http://www.flonnet.com/fl2008/stories/20030425000206700.htm |archivedate=1 July 2006 }}, creating employment to people of number of guilds and backgrounds, according to Dr. S.U. Kamath, ''A Concise History of Karnataka'', p. 132</ref>

==Tax system==
Tax assessment was done by the village assembly who were responsible for collecting for the government. Land revenue was called ''Siddhaya'' and included original assessment (''Kula'') and various cesses. Cesses were collected in proportion to ''Kula''.<ref name="traders"/> Taxes were levied on professions, marriage, goods in transit on chariots, carriages, domesticated animals. Taxes on commodities like gold, precious stones, perfumes, Sandalwood, ropes, yarn, residence, hearth, shops, cattle pans, sugarcane presses and produce like black pepper, betel leaves, ghee, paddy, spices, palm leaves, coconuts and sugar are mentioned in records.<ref name="china"/> Cattle tax was called ''balavana'' and loom tax was called ''maggadere''. Fines for violating laws were also collected. The village assembly could levy tax for a specific purpose like construction of a water tanks.

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002), {{ISBN|0-19-560686-8}}.
* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002), OCLC: 7796041.
* Dr. Romila Thapar, The Penguin History of Early India, From Origin to 1300 AD., 2003, Penguin, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-14-302989-4}}.
* {{cite web |url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2008/stories/20030425000206700.htm |title=Hoysala Heritage, Prof. Settar |accessdate=17 November 2006 |work=Frontline, Volume 20 – Issue 08, April 12–25, 2003 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701065442/http://www.flonnet.com/fl2008/stories/20030425000206700.htm |archivedate=1 July 2006 }}

[[Category:Hoysala Empire|Economy]]
[[Category:Economic history of India]]
[[Category:Historical economies of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Medieval economics]]
[[Category:Economies by former country|Hoysala Empire]]

Economy of the Hoysala Empire - Revision history

>Wikihistorian at 14:13, 14 October 2019