Economic Aspects during the Reddi Period

The Reddi kings ruled coastal and central Andhra for over a hundred years from 1325 to 1448 A.D. First they were the subservient of Kākatīya kings. After the death of Pratāparudradēva and the subsequent fall of the Kākatīya Empire, the Reddi chiefs became independent and this led to the emergence of the Reddi kingdom. The Reddi kings assumed the titles like Prajāparipālanabharata, and Prajāparipālanachatura in their records. Records show how the rulers, members of ruling families, nobles, wealthy individuals, merchant guilds and soldiers, by their grants of lands to temples and Brāhmins, helped the formation of agrahārās and villages, laying of gardens and parks and construction of irrigational works such as tanks, canals, wells, etc., and promoted agriculture. All land belonged to the state and the ruler had right to grant lands to individuals for individual ownership or common or joint ownership and to temples and mathās for cultivation and irrigational purposes. Land was divided into various grades for purposes of assessment and fixation of revenue to the state. Rice and millets were the staple crops. Different types of taxes were collected. The cultivators had to pay tax to king in kind or cash. The records of this period give only stray references to industries. Key concepts: Rāchagadēlu, mēdi–pālu, gadya, chandanakavalu, pattedakavalu, cengaluval