Chola Empire's Temple Copper Grants: Royal Deeds as History

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Chola Empire's copper-plate grants—royal decrees etched onto metal that recorded gifts of land, tax exemptions, and temple endowments. These inscriptions, like the famous Anbil Plates of the 10th century, offer a direct window into Chola administration, economy, and society. The hosts discuss how these plates were made, what they reveal about land tenure and temple patronage, and why they're considered among the most reliable sources for South Indian history. They also touch on the role of the Sabha—local village assemblies—in witnessing and managing these grants. Specific figures include King Sundara Chola and his son Aditya II. The episode also covers the discovery and modern interpretation of these plates by epigraphists like Eugen Hultzsch. #CholaEmpire #CopperPlates #Epigraphy #TempleGrants #SouthIndianHistory #AnbilPlates #SundaraChola #AdityaII #Sabha #EugenHultzsch #MedievalIndia #TamilNadu #LandGrants #IndianOceanWorld #FexingoHistory #History #India #Archaeology Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo