Unit III: Prehistoric Sri Lanka

o   Remains of the prehistoric man of Sri Lanka were found in Balangoda, Rawan Ella and Pahiyangala areas.

o   According to them the prehistoric man of Sri Lanka was an Australoid hominid. From the fossilized remains found from Balangoda the approximate height of the males was 174 cm and the females – 166cm.

o   Cave paintings of Hunter Gatherer Era could be found at Thivakka Bamunugama and Thatirimale.

o   Study of their tools led to the conclusion that these hominids belonged to the latter part of Pleistocene period from 100,000 BC.

o   The tools were chips of stone they found lying around in their environment.

o   Stone tools and pieces of pottery were found from the following areas:

o   Murukkan

o   Pomparippu

o   Wanathawillu

o   Thirikona Madu

o   Palavi

o   Bangadeniya

o   Nilgala

o   Kitulgala

o   Rawan Ella

o   Bogawantalawa

o   Potuvil

o   Batadomba Cave

o   Balangoda

o   Bellanbendi Pelessa

o   Angunakola Pelessa

o   People of Paleolithic Era made tools using flint and quartz. They made the hand axe and the scraper they used was shinier and more shapely.

o   Bellanbendi Pelessa excavations yielded hand axes and scrapers similar to the ones used by the prehistoric people of Australia. People of Bellanbendi Pelessa knew how to kindle fire.

o   The Neolithic Man engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Their implements were more advanced. Wood, horns and bones too were used to make tools. Hand axe got a wooden handle.

Aryan Settlements of Sri Lanka

                                 Suppadevi = Lion

                                 Sinhabahu = Sinhaseevali

 

        Kuveni = Vijaya = Madura Princess        Sumitta   

                                                     

Jeewahatta = Disaala               Panduwasudeva= Baddakachchayana     Anuradha Dheegayu

 

                                                              

                                                                Abhaya     Girikandasiva       chitra = Deegagamini

                                    

                                                                                 Swarnapali = Pandukabhaya (377-307 BC) 

 

                                                                                           Mutasiva (307-247 BC)

 

                                                               Devanampiyatissa   Uttiya   Suratissa   Asela

 *Sena and Guttika killed Suratissa

 *Elara killed Asela

o   According to Mahawamsa Prince Vijaya and his 700 companions were the first Aryans to have come to Sri Lanka.

o   According to Mahavamsa they were deported as a punishment for their unruly conduct. They embarked on their journey from Supparaka (Sofra) and landed near the area they later named Thambapanni on the day of the ‘parinibbana’ of the Lord Buddha.

o   Vijay had subjugated the Yakka tribe that lived in the nearby areas with the help of a Yakka princess called Kuveni.

o   The first settlements were established along the valleys of

o   Kadamba Nadi – Malwatu Oya

o   Gona Nadi – Kala Oya

o   Kalyani Nadi – Kelani River

o   Galha nadi – Gal Oya

o   Kumbukanda Nadi – Kumbukkan Oya

o   Karinda Nadi – Kirindi Oya

o   Upatissa Gama, Anuradha, Vijitha, Uruwela as well as Thambapanni were some of the settlements established by the companions of Vijaya.

o   Later as the population increased people moved inland.

o   The retinues of Madura Princess, Panduwasudewa, Baddakchchayana and her brothers too established their own settlements and enriched the fledgling Aryan settlements.

o   Aryans settled in the dry zone as it was ideal for paddy cultivation.

Socio- political and economic practices of the Aryans

  

o   At first settlements were governed by “Gamika” or “Gamini”. Later this post evolved to the state of kingship.

o   Paddy cultivation received a lot of importance as an economic activity. Therefore most settlements bordered waterways.

River	Settlement
Kadamba Nadi –Malwatu Oya	Tammenna, Upatissa Gama, Anuradha Gama
Gona Nadi – Kala Oya	Uruwela
Mahawaluka Nadi	Vijitha Gama, Gokanna
Galha Nadi – Gal Oya	Deegavapi (Digamadulla)
Kalyani Nadi – Kelani River	Kalyani
Karinda Nadi _kirindi Oya	Magama
Kappakandara Nadi _ Menik River	Kajaragama
*Jumbukola	Jambukola Pattana, Uratota (Kayts)

·         Under the guidance and patronage of Emperor Asoka allowed Devanampiyatissa, a local leader to become a consecrated king.

Questionnaire:

1.      What were the services of King Pandukabhaya?

o   United the various Aryan groups

o   Established a proper administrative structure

o   Appointed a Nagaraguttika to look after the administration of the city and a night-time administrator

o   Developed a well-planned city – Anuradhapura

o   Established a tradition of religious tolerance

o   Built hospitals, alms houses, places of worship for various religious sects, cemeteries

o   Appointed sanitary workers, doctors and nurses for hospital and attendants for the alms houses

o   Measured and established the boundaries of the villages

o   Constructed Abhaya(Basawakkulama),Gamini and Jaya tanks

  

2.      What was the impact of the friendship between Emperor and King Devanampiyatissa?

o   Arrival of Mahinda Thero with the message of Buddhism

o   Arrival of Sanganitta Therini with the Bo Sapling and craftsmen of 18 guilds

o   Development of arts and architecture

o   Protection from South Indian invasions

o   Evolution of the concept of “tank, stupa, village and temple”

o   Establishment of Bikku and Bikkuni Sasana

o   A disciplined nation guided by the Sangha Community

o   Introduction of Brahmi style writing 

3.      What had enabled king Elara to rule for 44 years?

o   He was a pious king who meted out justice to all equally

4.      What was the importance of the reign of King Dutugemunu?

·         Defeated king Elara who was an invader

·         United the country

·         Developed irrigation systems and agriculture

·         Built numerous temples and monasteries

5.      What were the contributions of King Kasypa to the arts and architecture?

·         Constructed a well-planned city at Sigiriya

·         Sigiriya frescoes

·         The water garden

6.      What were the contributions of King Agbo to irrigation?

·         Built Girttale, Kantale and Walaswewa

7.      Who was the last king of Anuradhpura?

·         Mahinda V (982 –1029 AD)

8.      How did his characteristics contribute towards the downfall of Anuradhapura?

·         He was a gentle person as a result he failed to make his subjects pay taxes

·         As a result Angampadi Force (mercenaries) were not paid

·         When Angampadi Forces rebelled the king retreated to Ruhuna

·         Emperor Raja Raja made use of the opportunity and sent an army under his son Rajendra to capture Rajarata

·         The king was taken prisoner and deported to Thanjore, the capital city of the Chola

·         The crown jewels too were confiscated by the Chola  

9.      Why did King Vijayabahu divide his troops to three sections in the battle with the Chola in 1070?

·         To cut off any reinforcement that might arrive from Chola Desha that might land at Mahathitta

·         To defeat the Chola troops stationed at Anuradhapura and secure the area

·         To attack Polonnaruwa directly

10.  What made the king select as Polonnaruwa the capital?

·         Presence of a developed irrigation network

·         More secure due to the presence of Mahaweli River

·         Better positioned to put down possible riots and rebellions in Maya and Rohana Desha

·         Polonnaruwa was a military outpost during Anuradhpura Era

·         Some of the latter kings of A’pura built palaces and monasteries in Polonnaruwa

11.  What were the services of King Vijayabahu?

·         Defeated the Chola

·         United the country

·         Shifted the capital to a more secure place

·         Turned Polonnaruwa into a well-planned city

·         Reconstructed the ruined irrigation networks ( Elahara Canal and Minneriya, Kaudulu, Kantale, MahagalKadawala, Mahakanadarawa tanks)

·         Reviewed trade

·         Re-established the higher Ordination Ceremony by bringing ordained bikkhus from Burma

·         Built “Atadage” to house the Tooth Relic

·         Put up distance markers along the roads leading to the Sri Pada and built rest houses

·         Cultivated friendships with powerful south Indian nations against possible Chola invasions

11.2 Name the kingdoms that emerged after the death of King Vijayabahu I.

·         Rajarata – Wickramabahu II

·         Dhakkina Desha - Banabharana

·         Dolosdahas Rata -  Kirthi Sri Megha

·         Atadahas Rata – Sri Vallabha

·         Maya Rata (a semi independent state)

12.  Draw the Polonnaruwa Dynasty from Vijayabahu I to Parakramabahu the Great.

                                            Moggallana = Lokanatha

 

Mitta=Pandya Prince     Jayabahu     Weerabahu   Lilawati= Vijayabahu = Thilokasundari   

                                                                                Yasodara  

 

Manabharana       Kirthi Sri Megha         Sri Vallabha  =  Sugala         Wickramabahu II

 

Mitta  Prabhavati  Badhravati   Parakramabahu = Lilawati Manabharana II   Gajabahu

       Vijayabahu II                                Kalinga Subadra Maha Devi = Nissankamalla = Kalyanawati

13.  What were the services of King Parakramabahu to the Dhakkina Desha?

·         Selected Panduwasnuwara as the capital developed it and renamed it as Parakramapura

·         Enlarged an existing tank and renamed it as Panduvapi

·         Built a dam across Deduru Oya at three places and constructed irrigation canals to provide water for agriculture

·         Drained the marshes of Pasdun Rata in kaluthara District and cultivated paddy

·         Dev. the ports of Chilaw, Kalpitiya, and Colombo for internal and external trade

·         Established a trained army to guard the borders of Dhakkina Desha

·         Annexed Maya Rata to Dhakkina desha 

14.  What were his services as the monarch of the entire country?

·         United the country in 1153

·         Built a network of canals and tanks

a.       Parakramasamudraya

b.      Built a dam across Ambanganga at Angammedilla to give water to Parakramasamudraya

c.       Enlarged Elahera canal

·          Sponsored “Polonnaru Katikawatha” under the guidance of Kashyapa Thero to root out the divisions between the bikkus

·         Constructed a vast number of temples and monasteries

Uttararamaya

Pothgul Viharaya

Lankatilaka

Thivanka Imag House

Demala Maha Seya

Suthigara Chethiya

Alahana Pirivena

·         Naval a powerful naval force

15.  Give reasons for the following invasions conducted by Parakramabahu the Great?

·         Burma, in 1164  - a naval force under the command of Nagaragiri Kitti invaded Burma for humiliating the Sinhalese merchants

·         Pandya Desha, in 1169 – to help Parakrama Pandya I  whose kingdom was invaded by Kulasekara. The sinhalese army was defeated and the two commanders Lankapura and Jagath Vijaya were slain according to Arpakkam and Pallavarayan Pettai inscriptions.

16.  How did Nissankamalla, a Kalinga prince, become the last great king of Polonnaruwa?

·         King Parakramabahu passed away without leaving an heir. So his sister’s son ascended the throne as Vijayabahu II. Within the year a commander named Mahinda assassinated the king. The sub king Nissankamalla became the king after expelling Mahinda. 

17.  How did King Nissankamalla win the hearts of his subjects?

·         Gave tax relief

·         Gave “Thulabhaara”

·         Built alms halls

·         Put up distance markers along the roads

·         Sponsored peaceful coexistence

·         Built Rankoth Vehera, Hetadage, Vatadage, Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, Audience Hall, etc.

·         Built several tanks – Galmetiyana Tank, Nissanka samudraya

·         Elevated kingship to divine level

18.  Name the female rulers of Polonnaruwas Era.

·         Lilawati, consort of Parakramabahu

·         Kalyanawati, consort of Nissankamalla

19.  List the South Indian invasions.

·         Sena Guttika Invasion – killed king Suratissa

·         Elara – killed King Asela ruled for 44 years

·         Sevana Invaders - defeated king Valagamba in 103 BC and ruled for 14 years

·         Five Invaders- before the reign of King Dhatusena and ruled for 25 years

·         Sri Vallaba- a Pandyan king during King Sena I’s time. King Sena I paid ransom & obtained the kingship

·         King Parannaka I – when his enemy the Pandya king sought refuge with Sena II the Chola king invaded Rajarata

·         Chola invasion during the reign of Mahinda IV. Mahinda IV retaliated by invading Chola Desha

·         Rajendra I in 1017 invaded Rajarata during the reign of Mahinda V and renamed the captured area as Mummadi Chola Mandalam. Polonnaruwa was renamed Jananata Pura and made the capital.

·         Magha invasion in 1215 during the reign of Parakrama Pandya

Political Establishment

1.      What was the role of the king? The king held the legislative, executive and judiciary powers. He owned the entire island, therefore, given the title ‘Bhupathi’/ ‘Thrisinhaladhishvara’, etc. during the reign of King Nissankamalla the kingship received divine status. Some kings were venerated as demi-gods after their death. (King Mahasen- Minneri Deiyo) Various court officials assisted the king. Succession was father to son. Some of the foreign marriages created confusion in the laws of succession later on. The king had to develop infrastructure and sponsor religious work.    

2.        What were the economic activities of the early settlers? Agriculture was the main occupation of the people. Cultivation of paddy, chena cultivation, cultivation of garden crops and animal husbandry were practiced. Cottage industries such as weaving, pottery, making jewellery and tools, etc. There were castes that specialized in certain tasks. (Kummara/Kabara – blacksmiths, diyaluwan – in charge of construction and maintenance of tanks and irrigation networks)

Jumbukola and Mahathitta ports were used for internal and external trade. Coins were used together with the barter system. 

3.      Describe the social system of the early Aryans.

·         The society was based on a milder version of the caste system practiced in India.

·         Brahmins enjoyed high social status as astrologers, educators and priests.

·         The chief of the village was called Gamini or Gamika. This tittle later evolved into kingship during the time of Devanampiyatissa.

·         Caste system precluded social mobility. At the same time the villages were mostly self-sufficient and unemployment was unheard of.

·         Before Buddhism became the state religion people worshipped Yakka, Naga, trees, mountains, etc. ancestral worship too practiced.

·         There was religious tolerance under the early kings

·         With the arrival of Mahinda Thero Buddhism became the state religion

·         Villages were self-sufficient

·          Marriage was not a legal contract. Binna and Deega marriages were practiced.

·         Women received a great amount of respect as mothers