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prahlad's review
4.0
Excellent book, focussing on a period of about 600 years of Deccan history from 500 - 1100CE. It begins with the Chalukyas of Vatapi and the Pallavas, then discusses the Rashtrakutas, and ends with the Chalukyas of Kalyani and the Cholas.
It is meticulously researched (the bibliography is long!), and the author spends a great deal of time discussing the cultural and social developments at the time. This enlivens the book, and makes it more readable than if it were all about kings and their machinations. In particular, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's description of temple architecture (particularly that of Ellora).
It is meticulously researched (the bibliography is long!), and the author spends a great deal of time discussing the cultural and social developments at the time. This enlivens the book, and makes it more readable than if it were all about kings and their machinations. In particular, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's description of temple architecture (particularly that of Ellora).
haaris's review
4.0
My knowledge of the Chalukyas had been embarrassingly limited before reading Lords of the Deccan. Kanisetti brings alive the story of their improbable rise and fluctuating fortunes over 5 centuries. Their internecine quarrels with branches of their own family (the Vatapi vs Vengi Chalukyas) as well as those with competing dynasties such as the Pallavas and Cholas, to name more prominent examples, are entertaining, horrifying, and sometimes breathtaking. The book isn't only about the Chalukyas though. The Rashtrakutas dislodge them quite effectively at one point -- vassals once nurtured as counter-weights to other suitors -- who then take the Deccan to new heights, most vividly exemplified by the awe-inspiring Krishneshvara (Kailashanatha) temple at Ellora. And the last third of Chalukyan history is incomplete without the presence of the mighty Cholas.
You could make a real life version of Game of Thrones with the early medieval history of the Deccan. Unfortunately, no one can make it because of this perplexing desire among people to look at past kings as pure and noble souls.
Kanisetti does a great job taking us through the evolution of architecture through this period and how the construction of grander structures was a way of (i) reaching subjects; (ii) symbolising the greatness of the ruler; (iii) cultivating new political bases and centres of commerce.
He also does a reasonable job of discussing money and commerce. Attention is given to the incredible globalised trade network of the time running from Europe to East Asia. Being part of this network was a prize whose worth was not missed by the warlords. Access to trade routes eliminated or reduced the need for exhausting war campaigns.
The author also talks about money and commerce within empires but I would have liked to know more: about the size of the economy, about how the rulers raised money (if at all) from the guilds, about the exchange value of coinage. I wouldn't have minded more space being given to the Ainurruvar or the Five Hundred Lords of Aihole, the -- to my eyes -- mysterious and powerful merchant guild operating throughout the Deccan.
It was a delight to connect the parts of history I do know about, such as that of Bhoja Paramara, with that of the Deccan.
I think, for all the positives, Kanisetti is guilty of hyperbole on occasion and is enamoured by his subject matter. Part of this is deliberate I suppose -- the deep neglect of this part of history needs correction and needs a voice championing its importance. But some of it is loose and raises the eyebrow.
A small but infuriating missing detail is the absence of a list of illustrations and maps.
I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anyone who seeks to learn more about this fascinating period of history.
*************
Goodreads is phasing out book updates so keeping these notes for personal records.
86/480
Keeping a track of present day cities associated with dynasties. So Kanchipuram was the seat of the Pallavas, Nashik of the Satavahanas and a second Chalukya capital, and of course Vatapi (now Badami) of the Chalukyas starting with Pulakeshin I.
112/480
The book has made me want to see Descent of the Ganges at Mamallapuram. The pictures of the rock cut relief look incredible.
155/480
The highlight has been Queen Loka-Mahadevi who asserted admirable independence and heft in a male-dominated environment. The UNESCO World Heritage Lokeshvara (Virupaksha) temple is a grand testament to her influence and power.
210/480
"Contrary to our notions of vast and powerful centralised empires that paint swathes of modern maps, in reality, a map of medieval India was more like a patchwork of petty chiefdoms separated by wide stretches of sparsely inhabited wilderness, with a few major dynasties exerting various degrees of control over geopolitically important areas."
247/480
The kavi-raja-margam project and the standardisation of Kannada under Amoghvarsha also makes for fascinating reading.
"The transformation was immediate and dramatic: 'the proportion of records in Sanskrit shrank from about 80% in the period 741-819 to 15% in the period 819-974', and to a negligible 5% by 996."
You could make a real life version of Game of Thrones with the early medieval history of the Deccan. Unfortunately, no one can make it because of this perplexing desire among people to look at past kings as pure and noble souls.
Kanisetti does a great job taking us through the evolution of architecture through this period and how the construction of grander structures was a way of (i) reaching subjects; (ii) symbolising the greatness of the ruler; (iii) cultivating new political bases and centres of commerce.
He also does a reasonable job of discussing money and commerce. Attention is given to the incredible globalised trade network of the time running from Europe to East Asia. Being part of this network was a prize whose worth was not missed by the warlords. Access to trade routes eliminated or reduced the need for exhausting war campaigns.
The author also talks about money and commerce within empires but I would have liked to know more: about the size of the economy, about how the rulers raised money (if at all) from the guilds, about the exchange value of coinage. I wouldn't have minded more space being given to the Ainurruvar or the Five Hundred Lords of Aihole, the -- to my eyes -- mysterious and powerful merchant guild operating throughout the Deccan.
It was a delight to connect the parts of history I do know about, such as that of Bhoja Paramara, with that of the Deccan.
I think, for all the positives, Kanisetti is guilty of hyperbole on occasion and is enamoured by his subject matter. Part of this is deliberate I suppose -- the deep neglect of this part of history needs correction and needs a voice championing its importance. But some of it is loose and raises the eyebrow.
A small but infuriating missing detail is the absence of a list of illustrations and maps.
I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anyone who seeks to learn more about this fascinating period of history.
This might seem like a repetition of the same endless pattern of dynastic rise and fall that we have seen so often through the course of five hundred years. But when we look at the symbolic texture and political geography of these events, we catch a glimpse of something grander. In the beginning of the book we saw how the Chalukyas of Vatapi had been cultivators or pastoralists. Out of nothing, out of a political vacuum, they built an empire in northern Karnataka. We take terms like 'king', 'empire', 'aristocrat', 'governor', 'vassal', 'monastery', 'temple', 'patronage' and so on for granted today. But the Chalukyas had applied these concepts to geographical and political spheres that had never seen these things. They had created the first Deccan empire, based in north Karnataka, by adapting to this region the Sanskritic imperial rituals and systems that had originated elsewhere, but now became the framework of a uniquely Deccan polity.
*************
Goodreads is phasing out book updates so keeping these notes for personal records.
86/480
Keeping a track of present day cities associated with dynasties. So Kanchipuram was the seat of the Pallavas, Nashik of the Satavahanas and a second Chalukya capital, and of course Vatapi (now Badami) of the Chalukyas starting with Pulakeshin I.
112/480
The book has made me want to see Descent of the Ganges at Mamallapuram. The pictures of the rock cut relief look incredible.
155/480
The highlight has been Queen Loka-Mahadevi who asserted admirable independence and heft in a male-dominated environment. The UNESCO World Heritage Lokeshvara (Virupaksha) temple is a grand testament to her influence and power.
210/480
"Contrary to our notions of vast and powerful centralised empires that paint swathes of modern maps, in reality, a map of medieval India was more like a patchwork of petty chiefdoms separated by wide stretches of sparsely inhabited wilderness, with a few major dynasties exerting various degrees of control over geopolitically important areas."
247/480
The kavi-raja-margam project and the standardisation of Kannada under Amoghvarsha also makes for fascinating reading.
"The transformation was immediate and dramatic: 'the proportion of records in Sanskrit shrank from about 80% in the period 741-819 to 15% in the period 819-974', and to a negligible 5% by 996."
sandyqbg's review
4.0
Lords of the Deccan is a very informative, yet accessible account of the role that early medieval Deccan(6th to 13th century) has played in shaping the culture and history of India. For budding history enthusiasts, especially those who want to discover the often overlooked history of the Deccan, this is a great place to start. In a popular culture, where Indian history is often Indo-Gangeto-centric (as much as western accounts of world history is often Eurocentric), it offers an entirely new perspective into the history of India.
Anirudh's writing is sharp and very engaging, as he masterfully conjures up images of Chalukya and Rashtrakuta courts and temples in the mind of the reader. The impact that the rulers and societies of this era have had on the evolution of culture, language, religion and social structures in India cannot be more understated and this book does a wonderful job of bringing that to the fore. Our modern conceptions of the Indian society, especially South Indian society owes a lot to these political entities.
He has also tried to reflect on the on-the-ground societal structures and practices, though the evidence he has had to go on has been fairly limited. It eschews the dry academic tone, often associated with history, though, in the process, a reader looking for greater academic rigour might feel a little discomfited with the speculations and the slightly more dramatized writing style. In any case, his writing draws upon a wide variety of primary and secondary sources to make his case.
My only complaint against this book would be of the treatment of the history of the Tamil kingdoms of this period. While I understand that the Deccan doesn't technically encompass the region where the Tamil kingdoms had their core territories, their history is far too intertwined with that of the Deccan. There is considerable coverage of the Pallavas and Cholas, but only whenever they crossed paths with the Chalukyas or Rashtrakutas, and they are often portrayed as an outsider. Any reader, who is new to history, might come to the conclusion that the contribution of these kingdoms to the history of the Deccan were limited and, perhaps, even unwelcome.
The bottomline here is that, aside from a few minor gripes, Lords of the Deccan is a great read for a history rookie looking for a start into the history of South India. It can certainly change your perspective if you're used to only a specific narrative of Indian history. However, for people who have already invested a lot into the study of history, like academicians, this book would add little to your understanding of the subject.
Anirudh's writing is sharp and very engaging, as he masterfully conjures up images of Chalukya and Rashtrakuta courts and temples in the mind of the reader. The impact that the rulers and societies of this era have had on the evolution of culture, language, religion and social structures in India cannot be more understated and this book does a wonderful job of bringing that to the fore. Our modern conceptions of the Indian society, especially South Indian society owes a lot to these political entities.
He has also tried to reflect on the on-the-ground societal structures and practices, though the evidence he has had to go on has been fairly limited. It eschews the dry academic tone, often associated with history, though, in the process, a reader looking for greater academic rigour might feel a little discomfited with the speculations and the slightly more dramatized writing style. In any case, his writing draws upon a wide variety of primary and secondary sources to make his case.
My only complaint against this book would be of the treatment of the history of the Tamil kingdoms of this period. While I understand that the Deccan doesn't technically encompass the region where the Tamil kingdoms had their core territories, their history is far too intertwined with that of the Deccan. There is considerable coverage of the Pallavas and Cholas, but only whenever they crossed paths with the Chalukyas or Rashtrakutas, and they are often portrayed as an outsider. Any reader, who is new to history, might come to the conclusion that the contribution of these kingdoms to the history of the Deccan were limited and, perhaps, even unwelcome.
The bottomline here is that, aside from a few minor gripes, Lords of the Deccan is a great read for a history rookie looking for a start into the history of South India. It can certainly change your perspective if you're used to only a specific narrative of Indian history. However, for people who have already invested a lot into the study of history, like academicians, this book would add little to your understanding of the subject.
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