Traveler
|
Region
/Country
|
Notes
|
Megasthenes
|
Greece
|
• First foregin traveler who gives references to ancient Kerala.
• He mentions Kerala as ‘Cherme’ in his book Indica.
|
St. Thomas
|
Rome
|
• Reached Kerala in AD.52 to spread the Christian faith
• One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.
• He is believed to have established Ezharappallikal or Seven and Half Churches in Kerala. These churches are at Kodungallur, Palayoor, Kottakkavu (Paravur), Niranam, Kokkamangalam, Nilackal (Chayal), Kollam and Thiruvithamcode (half church).
|
Sulaiman al-Tajir
|
Persia
|
• Reached Kerala in 9th Century.
• Mentioned Kollam as ‘Male’.
|
Abu Zaid
|
Persia
|
• Arab writer who made references to Kerala in the 10th century
|
Rabbi Benjamin
|
Spain
|
• First European traveler to give detailed mentions on Kollam.
• He reached Venad in 1167 during the reign of Adithya Varma.
• Mentioned Kollam as ‘Chulam’
|
Marco Polo
|
Italy
|
• Reached Kerala in 1292
• Mentioned Kollam as ‘Kiulan’.
|
Friar Odoric
|
Italy
|
• He was an Italian missionary explorer who reached Kollam in 1322
• Mentioned Kollam as ‘Polumbum’
|
Friar Jordanus
|
• Reached Kerala in AD 1321,1324
Became the first Bishop of Diocese of Kollam
• Mentioned Kollam as ‘Columbum’
• He established the St.George church at Quilon.
• First foreign traveler who gives account on ‘Marumakkathayam’ system in Kerala in his book ‘Mirabilia Descriptia’.
| |
Ibn Batuta
|
Morocco
|
• Mentions Kollam as Caulum and Kozhikode asCalikooth .
• Reached Kerala in 14th Century
|
John Di Marignollo
|
Florence
|
• He reached Kollam in 1347 on his way from Europe to China.
• Christian Missionary
|
Nicolo Conti
|
Venice
|
• Venetian merchant and explorer.
• First European to mention Kochi
|
Ma-Huan
|
China
|
• Reached Kerala in 15th century.
• First foreign traveler to write on Kochi.
• Gives valuable description on Calicut port
|
Duarte Barbosa
|
Portugese
|
• Portugese Writer.
• In 1503 he was the interpreter of Francisco de Albuquerque in contacts with the Rajah of Cannanore.
• He was the first foreign traveler to write on Pula pedi, Manna pedi.
|
Master Ralph Fitch
|
England
|
• Merchant of London who was among the first Englishmen tovisit Cochin.
• Reached Kerala in 1590.
• He refers to pepper trade in Kollam
|
St. Bartholomew
|
Austria
|
• He was sent in 1774 as missionary to Malabar.
• He was known in Kerala as Paulinus Paathiri.
• Author of first edition of the first Sanskrit grammar to be published in Europe.
• Prepared Portuguese- Malayalam dictionary on request of Karthika Tirunal Rama Varma Rajah of Travancore.
|
Wednesday 31 August 2016
Foreign Travelers in Ancient Kerala
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