With reference to the Chola period explain the following:

(a) Taxes imposed by the Cholas.

(b) Administration of the Kingdom.

(c) The three types of village assemblies.

(a) Taxes imposed by Cholas were taxes on land, taxes on the produce of the land and taxes on trade. The taxes on land were collected by the officials from the village councils. Part of revenue was kept for the king. The rest was used on the public works, on salaries of officials, on paying for the upkeep of the army and on the building of temples.

(b) The Cholas had a very efficient and organised administration. All authority was vested in the king. There was a council of ministers to advise the king. The administration was made even more simpler and efficient by distribution of power at different stages of administration. The empire was divided into province (mandalams), which were further divided into Valanadu and Nadu. Princes of the royal family were appointed governors of provinces. There was self governance in the villages and they were not ruled by any government officials. The central government looked after external defence, internal peace and order, promotion of general prosperity and cultural progress of the empire.

(c) The villages had three types of village assemblies, namely, the Ur, the Sabha and the Nagaram. The Ur was common type of assembly of the villages where the land was held by all classes of people who were, therefore, members of the local assembly. The Sabha was exclusively Brahmin assembly of the villages, where all the land belonged to the Brahmins. The Nagaram was the assembly of merchants and traders. It was prevalent at the places where they were dominant. Villagers who owned land were chosen by a vote to the council. The life and the work of the villages were discussed in these councils. This was a source of popular strength because it united the people. All affairs concerning the village, such as, collection of taxes, settlement of disputes and allocation of water were looked after by the committees.