A History of India, Third Edition

THE GREAT ANCIENT EMPIRES

The most important impact on the South was, of course, the spread
of Late Vedic culture from the North. Scholars refer to this in different
terms: Aryanisation, Sanskritisation, Hinduisation. But none of these
terms can do justice to the complex transmission of cultural influences.
During the early centuries AD North Indian culture had ceased to be a
purely ‘Aryan’ culture and it was transmitted not only by those who
spoke Sanskrit; in this early period of the last centuries BC Buddhists
and Jainists speaking Pali and Prakrit were as important in this process
as Brahmins who propagated various forms of Hinduism. In due course
the Dravidian languages of the South absorbed a great many Sanskrit
words and became themselves media for the expression of new cultural
values.
Brahmin families who continued to transmit sacred texts orally from
one generation to another were certainly of great importance in this
context. They penetrated the South peacefully and made an impact by
setting an example rather than by converting people. But the process of
Hinduisation was also accompanied by the oppression and exploitation of
former tribal groups as well as pariahs and untouchables within the caste
society. Brahmins provided a justification and legitimation for the
hierarchical structuring of society which was particularly useful to local
rulers who emerged from a tribal status. The Brahmins brought along the
ideology of Hindu kingship which such rulers eagerly adopted. The
Brahmins literally put the tribal people in their place. They could recite the
verses of the Mahabharata which state that it is the duty of tribes to lead a
quiet life in the forest, to be obedient to the king, to dig wells, to give
water and food to travellers and gifts to the Brahmins in such areas where
they could ‘domesticate’ the tribal people.

South Indian geopolitics

The history of South India was determined by the contrast of highland and
coastal lowland. At the height of the early medieval period this became
very obvious when the great regional kingdoms of the Southeast (Pallavas
and Cholas) and of the Western highlands (Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas)
vied with each other for the control of the large rivers flowing from west to
east. The fertile delta of Krishna and Godaveri was particularly coveted by
rival powers.
Prehistoric finds in North and South India mostly indicate that open
areas in the interior of the country were preferred by early settlers whereas
the early civilisations were based on the great river plains of the Indus and
Ganges. The early history of the South was very much influenced by the
proximity of the sea and the early historical development in the Southeast
centred on the coast. Settled agriculture and the growing of rice made the
coastal plains around the mouths of the great rivers much more attractive.