Asoka founded the most powerful secret society on earth: that of the Nine Unknown Men. What can have been the aim of these men?
The Chola Empire
The Chola Dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India
until the 13th century. The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the
Kaveri River. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings,
while Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I were notable
emperors of the medieval Cholas.
The Cholas were at the height of their power during the tenth, eleventh and
twelfth centuries. Under Rajaraja Chola I (Rajaraja the Great) and his son
Rajendra Chola, the dynasty became a military, economic and cultural power in
Asia. The Chola territories stretched from the islands of the Maldives in the
South to as far North as the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh.
Rajaraja Chola conquered peninsular South India, annexed parts of Sri Lanka and
occupied the islands of the Maldives. Rajendra Chola sent a victorious
expedition to North India that touched the river Ganga and defeated the Pala
ruler of Pataliputra, Mahipala. He also successfully raided kingdoms of the
Malay Archipelago. The power of the Cholas declined around the 12th century with
the rise of the Pandyas and the Hoysala, eventually coming to an end towards the
end of the 13th century.
The Cholas left behind a lasting legacy. Their patronage of Tamil literature
and their zeal in building temples have resulted in some great works of Tamil
literature and architecture. The Chola kings were avid builders and envisioned
the temples in their kingdoms not only as places of worship but also as centres
of economic activity. They pioneered a centralised form of government and
established a disciplined bureaucracy
