Latest / The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History
The Chola Empire's Mission to China: Song Dynasty Diplomacy
In 1077, a Chola embassy arrived at the court of Emperor Shenzong of Song China—bearing gifts of pearls, ivory, and a live elephant. But this was no mere tribute mission. This episode unpacks the strategic diplomacy behind the Chola-Song connection: how the Chola emperor Kulothunga I used ambassadors, trade goods, and Buddhist relics to secure a powerful ally, gain access to Chinese markets, and counterbalance Srivijaya's grip on the Strait of Malacca. We trace the journey from the Kaveri delta to Kaifeng, examine Song records that name Chola as 'Chu-lien,' and consider the…
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