"Kerala's history spans thousands of years, with evidence of human settlement dating back to the prehistoric era, including the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Megalithic periods, as indicated by archaeological findings such as those in the Edakkal Caves.
The region is first mentioned in historical records as "Keralaputra" in a 3rd-century BCE rock inscription by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, signifying its status as one of the four independent kingdoms in southern India alongside the Pandyas, Cholas, and Satyaputras.
From as early as 3000 BCE, Kerala was a prominent exporter of spices, particularly pepper and cardamom, attracting traders from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, including the Romans, Greeks, and Chinese.
The ancient port of Muziris (modern-day Kodungallur) served as a major hub in this international trade network.
The Chera dynasty emerged as the first significant kingdom in the region during the early centuries CE, ruling over parts of present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with Kodungallur as its capital.
By the 10th century, Kerala had developed a distinct linguistic and cultural identity, with the emergence of the Malayalam language and the separation from Tamil Nadu.
The Kulasekhara dynasty, a revival of the Chera kingdom, ruled from approximately 800 to 1102 CE, marking a golden age of prosperity in trade, literature, and the arts, along with the rise of the Bhakti movement in Hinduism.
This period also saw the establishment of the Malayalam calendar (Kollam Era) in 825 CE.
The medieval period witnessed the fragmentation of centralized rule into smaller principalities, including the Zamorin of Calicut in the north, the Venad kingdom in the south, and the Kochi kingdom in the center, leading to frequent conflicts.
The arrival of Europeans began in 1498 when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in Calicut, initiating a new era of colonial competition.
The Portuguese established trade dominance, followed by the Dutch, who captured Kochi in 1663, and later the British, who gained control of Malabar after defeating the Mysore Kingdom in the late 18th century.
Kerala was a center for progressive social reform, with figures like Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankal, and Chattampi Swamikal leading movements against caste discrimination and for education.
Key milestones include the Vaikom Satyagraha in 1924, which secured road access for lower castes, and the Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936, allowing all Hindus to enter temples in Travancore.
The princely states of Travancore and Cochin united in 1949 after Indian independence in 1947, and on November 1, 1956, the modern state of Kerala was formed through the States Reorganisation Act, combining Travancore-Cochin, the Malabar district, and Kasaragod taluk.