ABSTRACT
There were three areas, where gardens were geared to pepper-growing on a mass scale. The reason was not only rich and properly irrigated soil, but also proximity of transport routes. Between the 15th and 19th century, the greatest importance was that of lands in the central part of the country. The area was demarcated by the river Periyar to the north, a plane on lake Vembanad to the west and the Anchekoil river to the south. It is, however, difficult to determine how far into the eastern slopes of the Ghats pepper-growing was advanced. The felling of tropical forests and the planting of gardens on terraces was apparently the fundamental prospect for development all of the time, but the rate of this process is unknown. The proper "Pepper Kingdom" included the lands of Paliakar, Kotamangalam, Vadakkumkur and Tekkumkur5. The latter two, played a crucial role in the 16th century8. Another area of intensive pepper-growing was situated in the south, in the regions of Atingal and Peritaly. It is not clear whether it was already developed in the 16th century, or whether it was developed at some later date7. Finally, the third area existed in the north, in the Cherikkal and Kottayam regions. In the 16th century, it did not yet have any major significance, but in the next centuries, pepper-growfng there grew at a rapid pace8. However, until the 19th century, the crops there were less effective9. It also seems that forms of plantations appeared there at the earliest date, accompanied by modern growing methods.
