Kerala referred as the Garden of spice was major spice exporter since 3000BC. The spices from Kerala attracted Egyptians and Babylonians to Malabar coast. Phoenicians and Arabs too established trade with Keralaputra or Cheras, the independent southern India kingdom in those times. The Cheras or Keralaputra ruled most of the modern kerala but the southern tip close to Tamil Nadu was ruled by pandyas, they had a trading port Nelcynda in Quilon region.
Water channel was mainly used for trading spices with Greeks and Romans. The main spice traded was black pepper. The trade links of Cheras were traced to Egypt, Roman empire, West Asia, Greece and China. Kerala was known as Male or Malabar amoung trading partners. Romans were known to trading gold in exchange of black pepper. The trade partnership lead to establishment of coast posts by merchants from West Asia and Southern Europe. Starting of 4th century BC Arabs established trade connect with kerala, they also married locals and started muslim Mappila community in the area. This century also saw migration of some Persian Christians, these people joined the early Syrian Christian community that migrated in 1st century BC to Kerala.
The Chera- Chola constant warfare in 11th century declined the healthy spice trade in Kerala ports. Buddhism and Jainism were wiped out and social system got fragmented with caste divisions. This lead to subjugation of Kulasekhara dynasty but the turmoil did not end here till 18th century.
The Portuguese started dominating eastern shipping and spice trade around the 15th century, it was that time that Vasco Da Gama came to Kappad in Kozhikode. The Zamorin of Kozhikode permitted the trade with its subjects with establishment of factory and Fort. In later part of 15th century Portugese supremacy was challenged and subjugated by the Zamorin forces at Chaliyam fort. Toward the end of 17th century Hyder Ali, Mysore ruler invaded Northern Kerala, later Tipu Sultan defied the progress of British East India company but in the end of 17th century British forged alliances with Kochi.
At the onset of 18th century Travancore King Sree Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma annexed all the independent kingdoms up-to Northern Kerala through military conquests for a short duration. The state came under direct British rule in 18th century until India became independent. On 1st of November 1956 Kerala got its statehood.