maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

in the m t h centuxy A.D.. the Atabsconquired Wtsk, controlled the persian Gull. Urder the Abkd
kaliphs- Islamic sea power was at it's height. With the deciine of the Abbasids in the
tenth centuy A.D. and the rise of Fatimides in Egypt, the centre of Islamic sea power shifted from
Persian Gulf to Red Sea, while Muslim colonies developed in east Africa and peninsular India."'0,
The spread of Islam paved the way for the emergence of powerful Muslim trading communities
in peninsular India. Peninsular India occupies a central position in this region and it's Lital roie in trade is
undeniable. With the rise of Islamic power in West Asia, the Muslims lost no time in spreading their
influence in the ports of peninsular India. Among the Hindu communities along the coast with whom
they had already established friendly and close trade relations they also tried to spread their new faith.
Islam. In the course of time, Arab settlements grew into powerful native Muslim trade settlements
Malabar was a vital link in Muslim trade in the Indian ocean. The Chola sea power was a serious
obstruction in the eleventh centuy to the growth of Muslim influence. One of the first important measure
taken by Choia Raja Raja I towards the end of the tenth centuy A.D.. was to secure Malabar coast in an
engagement off Kandalur Chalai and to conquer the Lacdives and Maldives islands This was intended
to curb the Arab influence in Indian ocean trade. After the deciine of the Chola power in the hvelth
century the Mwli influence increased, and they enjoyed a dominant role in the sea borne trade of the
rwionl'.
The Coromandel ports became the favourable settlements of the Muslim traders. Kayal was the
principal port, in the thirteenth century where Muslims were pnnc~ple traders. It was also the chief port of
kde uAh Cqrbn, Mabcca and Pdan gulf. Kikkkami. Mpattanam, To& ad Nagapattanam also became
busy ports, and important Muslim centres of trade. These maritime tom played a c~aal economic roie in
the pre-cobnial CoromKdel Coast. The import of war horses was one of the earliest spzdahties. By the early
fourteenth century, the armies of Pandya rulers were supplied with west Asian horses, shipped in by the
Mush tden to Kayal, Petiapathmm Kd Khkhd from the gat inkmatiad enkrpb of the P-d.
In this,an important agency had been established here by an Arab Chief who is described by Muslim
histoh as Malikkul Islam J&& the nJer of Kis. He was ve y influencial in Pandyan Kingdom. The
~ t o f ~ ~ - ~ ~ t h e 9 & o f h o m h a d e . A c c o ~ t o t h e ~ t o f W d ,