Lords of Earth And Sea : A History of The Chola Empire

Anirudh Kanisetti’s Lords of the Land and Sea is a meticulously researched and compellingly written account of the Cholas, tracing their rise from regional chieftains to the undisputed maritime power of the Indian Ocean. Unlike many historical narratives that rely on glorification, Kanisetti presents a nuanced and well-referenced analysis, allowing readers to engage with the complexities of Chola rule rather than just their conquests.What sets this book apart is its balance between academic rigor and accessibility—it is rich with primary sources, yet never overwhelming for the general reader. The author does not indulge in simplistic hero worship but instead provides a well-rounded perspective on governance, military strategy, and economic expansion. The book also sheds light on the lesser-discussed aspects of Chola history, including their engagement with Southeast Asia and their intricate administrative systems.Kanisetti’s storytelling makes history feel alive, connecting the past with broader themes of power, trade, and cultural exchange. Whether you are a history enthusiast or someone exploring South Indian history for the first time, Lords of the Land and Sea is an essential and insightful read that sets a high standard for historical writing in India.

Having read his earlier book "Lords of the Deccan", I was happy to read this and I finished it in three days. I made notes and read all the footnotes as well. I loved the book and Anirudh's style of writing is unique without a bias in what one said or analyzed but based on archaeological evidence. I am now reading his first book again to get my memory refreshed. I think, and i have a hunch, that Anirudh's next book is or would be on Pallavas? I hope so. I would love to hear what he has to say about an equally maverick dynasty as Pallavas whose period of rule was a renaissance in arts, literature, and other areas in South india.

A good read.

Nice!!!

Very good book , hope translated to Tamil soon

A historical engaging account of the rule of cholas. The Authors negative slant of viewing the people, culture and traditions of those times could have been avoided.

'Lords of the Deccan', the first book of the author, was amazing. I loved it a lot. The topic of this book is interesting but the approach taken by the author is very different from his first book. The 'nicknames' used by him did not work for me :) Overall, the narrative was not gripping.

The author has done a very good job of explaining the ascent to power of the Cholas, the story of their grandeur and power during the great kings of the eleventh century and the eventual downfall of the dynasty. It’s a good place to get a quick glance of how the Cholas attained mastery of South India and beyond.However, the book lags on two fronts. Firstly, it’s quite condensed in its scope. Because Chola history has innumerable characters and very little literature is left for modern scholars to write about, I understand it’s difficult to expand these characters. Though I still believe, having a detailed approach could have helped to comprehend the Chola world.And secondly, the author uses nick-names to reference every character available. And I mean it, absolutely every character except the main kings! I wonder why has he done that! The book feels amateurish. The audience of this book, I am certain, aren’t infants! So to use nick-names, and constantly call them so, borders on the taken-to-be-granted territory! This nick-naming has seriously eroded the book’s scholarship value.So, besides the above two points I think this is a good book for a quick read.