Geographical Background of Kerala History
Natural Divisions of Kerala
Unlike histories that treat nature as a neutral backdrop, the authors emphasize the active role
of the environment in shaping:
● Patterns of human settlement,
● Modes of livelihood,
● Forms of political organization,
● Trade systems, and
● Religious and cultural formations.
They argue that the interplay between topography and human activity was a determining
factor in the formation of Kerala’s distinctive historical trajectory.
Kerala's topography can be broadly divided into three ecological belts, each with distinct
features and historical implications:
1. Highlands (Western Ghats)
o Located on the eastern side of the state, the highlands are part of the Western
Ghats (Sahyadri Hills).
o Characterized by rugged terrain, dense forests, and rich biodiversity.
o Historically, this region remained sparsely populated and was largely isolated,
serving as a natural barrier that limited overland invasions and interactions
with the Tamil hinterlands.
Elevation and Landscape: Rugged, forested mountain terrain, ranging from 900 to
over 2,000 meters.
Ecological Features:
o Heavy rainfall
o Dense forest cover,
o Origin of most rivers (e.g., Periyar, Bharathapuzha).
Historical Role:
o Initial human occupation was limited due to dense forests and difficult terrain.
o Tribal communities (e.g., Kurumbas, Paniyas) traditionally inhabited these
zones.
, o In later centuries, especially under colonial rule, these regions saw:
1. Transformation into plantation economies (tea, cardamom),
2. Forest resource extraction,
3. Hydroelectric projects (e.g., Idukki Dam).
The Ghats also acted as a geopolitical frontier, marking the separation from
the Tamil plains, but also providing strategic mountain passes like the
Palakkad Gap for trade and military movement.
2. Midlands
o Comprising rolling hills and river valleys, this area lies between the highlands
and the coastal plain.
o It is agriculturally rich, producing spices like pepper, ginger, and
cardamom—commodities that were vital in Kerala's pre-modern trade
networks.
o Served as a transit zone, facilitating movement and interaction between the
coast and the highlands.
o Ideal for mixed farming (coconut, arecanut, pepper, plantains),
o Dense settlements, and temple-based agrarian societies.
Historical Importance:
o Emergence of early agrarian settlements,
o Development of temple-centered redistribution economies,
o Sites for Brahminical settlements (as described in copper plate grants),
o Guild-based trade and craft activity.
This region formed the socio-economic core of early historic Kerala, where
agrarian expansion and caste society consolidated.
3. Lowlands / Coastal Plains
o These are narrow stretches of fertile land lying along the Arabian Sea.
o Enriched by alluvial soil and numerous backwaters (kayals), the region was
ideal for rice cultivation and coconut farming.
Natural Divisions of Kerala
Unlike histories that treat nature as a neutral backdrop, the authors emphasize the active role
of the environment in shaping:
● Patterns of human settlement,
● Modes of livelihood,
● Forms of political organization,
● Trade systems, and
● Religious and cultural formations.
They argue that the interplay between topography and human activity was a determining
factor in the formation of Kerala’s distinctive historical trajectory.
Kerala's topography can be broadly divided into three ecological belts, each with distinct
features and historical implications:
1. Highlands (Western Ghats)
o Located on the eastern side of the state, the highlands are part of the Western
Ghats (Sahyadri Hills).
o Characterized by rugged terrain, dense forests, and rich biodiversity.
o Historically, this region remained sparsely populated and was largely isolated,
serving as a natural barrier that limited overland invasions and interactions
with the Tamil hinterlands.
Elevation and Landscape: Rugged, forested mountain terrain, ranging from 900 to
over 2,000 meters.
Ecological Features:
o Heavy rainfall
o Dense forest cover,
o Origin of most rivers (e.g., Periyar, Bharathapuzha).
Historical Role:
o Initial human occupation was limited due to dense forests and difficult terrain.
o Tribal communities (e.g., Kurumbas, Paniyas) traditionally inhabited these
zones.
, o In later centuries, especially under colonial rule, these regions saw:
1. Transformation into plantation economies (tea, cardamom),
2. Forest resource extraction,
3. Hydroelectric projects (e.g., Idukki Dam).
The Ghats also acted as a geopolitical frontier, marking the separation from
the Tamil plains, but also providing strategic mountain passes like the
Palakkad Gap for trade and military movement.
2. Midlands
o Comprising rolling hills and river valleys, this area lies between the highlands
and the coastal plain.
o It is agriculturally rich, producing spices like pepper, ginger, and
cardamom—commodities that were vital in Kerala's pre-modern trade
networks.
o Served as a transit zone, facilitating movement and interaction between the
coast and the highlands.
o Ideal for mixed farming (coconut, arecanut, pepper, plantains),
o Dense settlements, and temple-based agrarian societies.
Historical Importance:
o Emergence of early agrarian settlements,
o Development of temple-centered redistribution economies,
o Sites for Brahminical settlements (as described in copper plate grants),
o Guild-based trade and craft activity.
This region formed the socio-economic core of early historic Kerala, where
agrarian expansion and caste society consolidated.
3. Lowlands / Coastal Plains
o These are narrow stretches of fertile land lying along the Arabian Sea.
o Enriched by alluvial soil and numerous backwaters (kayals), the region was
ideal for rice cultivation and coconut farming.
