Latest / The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History
Chola Coins and the Silver Trade with Southeast Asia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Chola Empire used coinage not just as currency but as a tool of political legitimacy and economic control across the Indian Ocean. Focusing on the silver kasu and gold fanam coins minted under Rajaraja Chola I and his successors, they trace how Chola coins spread from the Kaveri delta to Sumatra, Java, and even China. The discussion covers the die-striking technique, the weight standards that mirrored Roman and Arab coins, and the hoard evidence from temples and trade ports. Lucas explains why the Chola deliberately mixed Tamil and Sanskrit…
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