1. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS DURING THE PALLAVAS

2. ECONOIC LIFE
Agriculture .
The economy had remained self sufficient of the Pallava Kingdom was chiefly based on Villages and agriculture
Paddy and Cotton were extensively cultivated .
Rice was exported to China and East Indies .
The creation of the Brahmadeya villages had started during the Pallava period .
The Brahmins began to settle in these villages and they were exempted from paying taxes.
The Lands donated to the temples were called as Devadanas .
The number of villages had increased during the Pallava rule .

3. There were two types of lands __ Cultivable Lands and Arid Lands
Arid lands were reclaimed and cultivated .
The Pallava kings had erected sevesral irrigation Tanks
The pallava ruler Mahendravarman I erected the Mamandur Tank called Chitra Mega Tadakam .
Handicrafts .
The Crafts of the Pallava period include Weaving , Stone Cutting , Pottery , Carpentry and Ivory Works ,
The Cotton Clothes were exported to China , Babylonia and Egypt .
Kanchipuram had remained an important centre for Silk Weaving .

4. Internal Trade
The increase in production and the expanding economy under the Pallavas led to the growth of Trade .
There was a remarkable growth in the internal trade .
The regular markets had gradually become urban centres .
There were excellent highways to transport goods from one place to another .
The Capital city , Kanchipuram had remained an important trading centre .
The merchants of the Pallava period had to obtain license to keep shops and they were also asked to pay taxes .
The Pallavas had issued Gold and Silver Coins , which had resulted in the expansion of commerce .
The merchants had formed their own organizations called Manigramam .

5. Foreign Trade . Weights and Measures .
Spices , Cotton Textiles , Precious Stones and Medicinal Plants were exported to the countries like Java , Sumatra , Kadaram , Combodia , Sri Lanka , China and Burma .
The foreign merchants were known as Nanadesi
Mamallapuram and Mylapore were the important seaports of the Pallavas .
Weights and Measures .
Lands were measured with the units called Uzhavu, Nivarthanam or Pattiga and Hala refers to the unit of land .
Plough was used for measuring the land .
Paddy and Rice were measured by Chudunazhhi .
The other units such as Videl , Vidugu and Uzhkku were also used for measurement .
Pidi was the smallest unit .

6. The units such as Aazhakku , Uzhakku , Uri and Nazhi were used to measure items like Milk , Ghee , and Oil .
Gold was measured by the units called Kazhanju and Manjadi .
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7. Religion under the Pallavas .
During the Pallava period , both Saivism and Vaishnavism had been revived ,
The Pallava rulers patronized both these religions .
The spread of Bhakthi Movement was encouraged by the Pallava rulers .
Bhakthi Movement .
The Bhakthi Movement , which had spread in South India during Sixth and Seventh centuries AD , made a tremendous impact in the Social and Cultural life of the people .
The term Bhakthi means Devotion to God .
True Bhakthi was considered as more valuable than mere rites and rituals .
During the period of Pallavas Alzhwars and Nayanmars preached the cult of Bhakthi among the people .

8. Saivism .
The followers of Lord Siva were known as Saivaites , the saiva Saints , Nayanmars had preached Saivism .
There were Sixty Three Nayanmars , the most important among them were
Tirunavukkarasar ,
Thirugnanasambandar
Sundarar and
Manickavasagar
There was also woman saints like Karaikkal Ammaiyar .
They composed devotional songs and spread Bhakthi among the minds of the people .