Social Sciences
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/189
Browse
9 results
Search Results
Item Foreign Trade Relations in Sri Lanka in The Ancient Period: With Special Reference to The Period from 6th Century B.C to 16th Century A.D.(Reviewing International Encounters 2018,The Research Center for Social Sciences (RCSS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Sudharmawathie, J.M.Foreign trade is one of the prominent feature of Sri Lankan economy from the ancient times. According to some views ancient Ceylon was inhabited by foreign traders who arrived the country from neighboring countries. According to the chronicles, Ceylon had been populated from the 6th Century B. C. The maritime trade of the Indian Ocean can be traced back to the dawn of civilization when as early as the third millennium B. C., the Hardpan merchants of India traded with Mesopotamia through the ports of the Persian Gulf. Up to the time of 8th century A. D. foreign trade activities in the Indian Ocean were carried out by various nations such as Persians, Ethiopians and Chinese and many others. After the 8th century B. C. most trade activities were conducted by Muslim trades in various Islamic Countries. Sri Lanka had been the central point for all these traders. It is apparent that Sri Lanka has engaged in trade with many countries from the ancient times. It includes Greece, Rome, Persia. India, South-East Asian countries and with China, the farthest country towards the east. Accordingly, Sri Lanka had been treated as the main land mark for foreign trade in the Indian Ocean. From ancient times Sri Lanka had been treated as the main meeting point of the traders bringing their goods from the East and the traders coming from the west though Persian bay and Red Sea. The main objective of this research is to investigate the factors contributed become Sri Lanka a popular trading center in international trade activities during the prescribed period under consideration. Primary and secondary sources including information from chronicles, inscriptions and archeological remains were adapted along with foreign documentation and reports. Geographical location of Sri Lanka has substantiated the possibility of maintaining trade relations with foreign countries. As the sea routes towards the east and west were located through Sri Lankan sea, this island had become a popular sea halt on foreign voyages. Sri Lanka had become so popular among international traders because of the fact that there were several harbors located around the island that can be anchored any vessels. The importance of harbors situated in Sri Lanka had subjected to remarkable charges from time. However, the significance of every harbor has remained unchanged at all times. The main harbor during the Anuradhapura period was Mahathiththa. It existed up to the 14th century. When Mahatiththa become out of use, the other harbors in the southern and western part of the island become prominent. According to the sources reveals another important factor is that Sri Lanka is situated very close to India. Another fact the foreign traders attracted towards this small island is that the enrichment of the country with many valuable natural resources such as pearls, gems, elephants, ivory, and spices namely cinnamon, pepper, clove including many other varieties which were high demand in international trade.Item The Rehal of Ibn Batuta: A historical analysis of Ibn Batuta's Narration on Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Sudharmawathie, J.M.Sri Lanka possess a greater significance and importance as an island in the Indian Ocean because of the geographical features of the island. Since Sri Lanka is situated in a central position in the Indian Ocean along the maritime trade route, Sri Lanka owns several bays and anchorages which provide adequate facilities for the ships. As a result, from the ancient times, Sri Lanka served as an important arena to maintain the relationships of countries across the globe. There are several foreign scholars who had kept records on the significance of Sri Lanka's geographical features since 4th century B.C. Some of such authors are of Greek, Roman, Persian, Arabian and Chinese origins. A fact to note is that some of those authors had not visited Sri Lanka. Yet, even they had written about Sri Lanka in the like manner of those who visited Sri Lanka.One of the important Arabic traveller who visited Sri Lanka in 14th century was Ibn Batuta. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the significance and the accuracy of Ibn Batuta's records when following Sri Lankan history. In order to achieve this aforementioned objective, primary and secondary sources were referred. Ibn Batuta who visited Sri Lanka in 1344, travelled in many parts of the country. Some such places are Sri Padha, Dondra Devalaya, Galle Fort and Colombo Fort. Along with the descriptions of these places the author had mentioned about the politics of Sri Lanka during the period when he visited the island. Especially he mentioned about the Arya Chakrawarthi who ruled in Jaffna in that period. In addition, inclusive of his reports are the economic, political and religious facts about Sri Lanka. He has also reported about Gampola, which was the kingdom in rule back then, Thus, it can be concluded that the report written by Ibn Batuta is a useful source when learning history, irrespective of the fact that he is a foreign authorItem The Role of Brahmins in Mediaeval Sri Lanka(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Sudharmawathie, J.M.Indian influence is evident in shaping up of the Sri Lankan society from ancient times. According to historical sources, Sri Lanka was inhabited by groups of people from India who immigrated from time to time .One of the main aspects of the Indian social organization was the caste discrimination based on four-fold caste system. The four-fold Indian division, Viz, Brahamana, Kastriya, Visya and Sudra is mentioned in the Pali and the Sinhalese chronicles as well as in other literary works. The important point is that, though these caste groups were known here, they did not become quite a parallel to the Indian hierarchy. Caste in ancient Sri Lanka never assumed the Indian rigidity with its hardened social ramifications, largely due to the impact of Buddhism. There is clear evidence of the presence of Brahmanas among the early Indian settlers in Sri Lanka. They had a high social status and subsequently occupied an important position in the royal court. The immediate cause for the downfall of the Rajarata civilization was the cruel invasion of the invader named Magha who came from Kalinga Desa. The policy which Magha followed as reflected in the chronicles, was one of ruthless repression and tyranny. According to the Mahavamsa and other chronicles described the disruption of the sacral order. The result of Magaha's invasion was the shift of the kingdoms to the South West. The aim of this paper is to examine the position of the Brahmanas in the social organization which has been created after the shift of the kingdoms to the South West. The research would be limited to the period from 13th century AC to 15th century AC and to the periods from Dambadeniya to Kotte. Data was collected through primary and secondary sources and inscription revealed a lot of information pertaining to this research. In Dambadeniya Kingdom, the first kingdom in the South Western Sri Lanka, villages have been established for Brahmanas. During the mediaeval period, Brahmanas came from India to Sri Lanka due to various reasons. It has been identified that those Brahmins enjoyed various privileges under the patronage of the rulers at the times.Item Item The status of women at the time of Buddha(Academic Staff College (ASC), Jawaharlal Nehru University, India, 2006) Sudharmawathie, J.M.; Hewawasan, H.H.N.S.Item කොළඹ ජාතික කෞතුකාගාරය පිළිබඳව විමර්ශනයක්(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Jayathissa, L.L.A.K.; Sudharmawathie, J.M.Item කොළඹ ජාතික කෞතුකාගාරය පිළිබඳව විමර්ශනයක්(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Jayatissa, L.L.A.K.; Sudharmawathie, J.M.Item The efforts made by the rulers of Dambadeniya to safeguard and protect the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, 2009) Sudharmawathie, J.M.Item The economic conditions of the Dambadeniya period as depicted by the Royal Donations to the Buddhist Sangha(University of Kelaniya, 2013) Sudharmawathie, J.M.This paper focuses on the relationship between the economic conditions of the Dambadeniya Period and the Royal Donations to the Buddhist Sangha. The political instability during the last phase of the Rajarata civilization resulted in shifting of the capital to Dambadeniya. King Vijayabahu III was able to manage the political conditions of the Maya Rata with Dambadeniya as the center of administration. He managed to create a political atmosphere which enabled himself and his successor to develop religious and economic conditions in the kingdom. Until the 13th century AD the economy of the dry zone depended on the system of irrigation developed by the past kings. Although the seat of administration shifted to the South-west with the establishment of the Dambadeniya kingdom economic conditions of the county did not undergo a radical change. However trade was gradually becoming a very important sector in the economy. This was probably due to the political stability and the geographical conditions of the South-west i.e. the natural harbours. As a result of these combined economic activities the economic conditions of the Dambadeniya Period were relatively good. In 1215 AD Magha, of Kalinga in South India, invaded the island and captured power in Polonnaruwa. He followed a deliberate policy of destroying Buddhism. He and his forces started harassing the Sangha and destroying places of Buddhist worship in Rajarata. Therefore the main challenge faced by Dambadeniya kings was to restore Buddhism to its past glory. Dambadeniya rulers worked tirelessly for the development of Buddhism as the state religion. The royal donations to the Buddhist Sangha were one step taken by these kings with the view of developing Buddhism. According to many sources, almost all the royal donations during this period have been made with the objective of protecting and stabilizing Buddhism as a religion. The objective of this paper is to find out the connection between the positive economic conditions of the Dambadeniya Period and the Royal Donations to the Sangha. Primary sources, both literary and archaeological, would be analyzed for this end. It is clear from the primary historical sources that the favourable economic conditions of the Dambadeniya period enabled the kings to donate immensely to the Buddhist institutions and the Sangha, and as a result, the stability and strength of Buddhism as the state religion improved.