Substantive Economy and Indigenous Trade Networks of Hill Tribes in Early Medieval Kerala

Summary

The Western Ghats' hill tribes of Kollam, Kerala, maintained a substantive economy rooted in forest-based subsistence and indigenous trade networks during early medieval Kerala (800-1500 CE). Their survival depended on harmonizing production and exchange, fostering interdependence with nature and fellow tribes. Agasthya Mountain served as a critical node in connecting Malabar and the Coromandel Coast, facilitating the trade of spices and forest products. Kollam, known as Desinganad, rose as a maritime hub after Muziris' decline, leveraging its proximity to rich resources and tribal-managed trade routes. Tribes like the Kanikkar, Malapandaram, and Urali played pivotal roles in this network, which sustained ecological and ethnographic balance. The arrival of Europeans disrupted this system, introducing colonial subjugation and eroding indigenous trade. Kerala's political geography, divided into four Khandams, further complicated unification due to its fragmented terrain of rivers, backwaters, and mountains. The region's tribes, including Adiyan, Paniyan, and Ulladar, were integral to Kerala's cultural and economic landscape. Their endogamous social structures, taboos, and self-reliance defined their identity. Historical texts like the Ramayana and Mahabharata reference these tribes, often labeling them as Adivasis, Rakshasas, or Vanaras. The study highlights the tribes' historical significance, their adaptation to racial influences, and their enduring role in Kerala's biodiversity and trade heritage.