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The Chola Empire's Diplomatic Gifts to Song China
In this episode of The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known facet of Chola power: their diplomatic missions to Song Dynasty China. Between 1015 and 1077, Chola rulers sent at least seven embassies bearing exotic gifts—pearls, ivory, and even a live giraffe—to the Chinese court. These missions weren't just about trade; they were calculated moves to secure strategic alliances, boost prestige, and tap into the lucrative maritime routes to the East. Lucas unpacks the records from the Song Shi, the official history, which detail these…
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