Chola dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil thalassocratic empire of southern India, one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the world's history. The earliest datable references to the Chola are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE left by Ashoka, of the Maurya Empire (Ashoka Major Rock Edict No.13). As one of the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam, along with the Chera and Pandya, the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until the 13th century CE. Despite these ancient origins, the period when it is appropriate to speak of a "Chola Empire" only begins with the medieval Cholas in the mid-9th century CE. 

The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of the Kaveri River, but they ruled a significantly larger area at the height of their power from the later half of the 9th century till the beginning of the 13th century. The whole country south of the Tungabhadra was united and held as one state for a period of three centuries and more between 907 and 1215 AD. Under Rajaraja Chola I and his successors Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola, and Kulothunga Chola I, the dynasty became a military, economic and cultural power in South Asia and South-East Asia. The power of the new empire was proclaimed to the eastern world by the expedition to the Ganges which Rajendra Chola I undertook and by naval raids on cities of the city-state of Srivijaya, as well as by the repeated embassies to China. The Chola fleet represented the zenith of ancient Indian sea power.

During the period 1010–1153, the Chola territories stretched from the islands of the Maldives in the south to as far north as the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. Rajaraja Chola conquered peninsular South India, annexed parts of which is now Sri Lanka and occupied the islands of the Maldives. Rajendra Chola sent a victorious expedition to North India that touched the river Ganges and defeated the Pala ruler of Pataliputra, Mahipala. In 1025, he also successfully invaded cities of Srivijaya of Malaysia and Indonesia. Chola invasion ultimately failed to install direct administration over Srivijaya, since the invasion was short and only meant to plunder the wealth of Srivijaya. Chola rule or influence on Srivijava would last until 1070 when the Cholas began to lose almost all of its overseas territories. The Later Cholas (1070-1279) would still rule portions of Southern India. The Chola dynasty went into decline at the beginning of the 13th century with the rise of the Pandyan dynasty, which ultimately caused their downfall.

The Cholas left a lasting legacy. Their patronage of Tamil literature and their zeal in the building of temples has resulted in some great works of Tamil literature and architecture. The Chola kings were avid builders and envisioned the temples in their kingdoms not only as places of worship but also as centers of economic activity. They were also well known for their art, specifically temple sculptures and 'Chola bronzes', exquisite bronze sculptures of Hindu deities built in a lost wax process they pioneered; that continues (to a certain extent) to this day. They established a centralized form of government and a disciplined bureaucracy. The Chola school of art spread to Southeast Asia and influenced the architecture and art of Southeast Asia. The medieval Cholas are best known for the construction of the magnificent Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur, commissioned by the most famous Chola king, Rajaraja Chola in 1010 CE.
Q173491
Tamil
Concept
Q288587
thalassocratic
Concept
Q8589
Ashoka
PER
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Maurya Empire
LOC
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Ashoka Major Rock Edict No.13
MEDIA
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Three Crowned Kings
UNK
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Tamilakam
LOC
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Chera
LOC
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Pandya
LOC
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medieval Cholas
UNK
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Kaveri River
LOC
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Tungabhadra
LOC
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Rajaraja Chola I
PER
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Rajendra Chola I
PER
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Rajadhiraja Chola
PER
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Virarajendra Chola
PER
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Kulothunga Chola I
PER
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South Asia
LOC
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South-East Asia
LOC
Q5089
Ganges
LOC
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Rajendra Chola I
PER
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naval raids
Concept
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Srivijaya
LOC
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ancient Indian sea power
UNK
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Maldives
LOC
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Godavari River
LOC
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Andhra Pradesh
LOC
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South India
LOC
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Sri Lanka
LOC
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Ganges
LOC
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Pala
LOC
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Pataliputra
LOC
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Mahipala
PER
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Srivijaya
LOC
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Malaysia
LOC
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Indonesia
LOC
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Later Cholas
UNK
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Pandyan dynasty
LOC
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Tamil literature
UNK
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government
Concept
Q11708
Southeast Asia
LOC
Q916943
Brihadisvara
LOC
Q151148
Chola dynasty
LOC
Q151148
Chola dynasty
LOC
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country of citizenship
head of government
country