International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume II, Issue VIII, August 2018 | ISSN 2454–6186

Historical Factors That Contributed the Ship (URU) Building in Beypore

Shameerali .M

 Research Scholar, Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Tirur, Malappuram, Kerala, India

This work is an attempt at understanding the historical factors that contributed the Uru (wooden ship) building in Beypore. The history of ship building in Beypore goes back to 2000 years before. The ship building has been an impulse to trade in Malabar with overseas regions. Many attempts have been made by many scholars to study the history of ship building. The significance of ship building is closely related with trade, both native and foreign, prosperity of land, water transportation etc. The present attempt is a micro level study about the historical factors that contributed the ship building in the port of Beypore in Kozhikode. Studies on some aspects of ship building in Beypore have appeared along the history of the locality. It is an exclusive study on the ship building in Beypore. The scope of the present work is limited to the study of ship building in a particular area only. Sources for this work are mainly secondary sources. Primary sources like Gazetteers, interviews, news papers etc. have been used for this study. Descriptive and analytical methods have used in the preparation of this work.

The age old tradition of the ship building in Beypore goes back to 2000 years before. According to some historians, there are references about Beypore in the history of Solomon, Israeli emperor (C. 900 BC). His sailors and traders used to have precious goods from Malabar. This references deserve study. After that, Romans came here for trade. From ancient period, even today, teak timber of the region of Kerala has it’s own peculiarity. Teak and other timbers are found abundantly grown in the forests of Malabar and its transportation through rivers, management of skilled laboures, etc contributed the ship building. The trade relations with Arabs have been an impulse to ship building in Malabar. The ship building of Malabar has attracted scholars, studies on the history of trade and oceanic voyages.

The important factors that contributed the development of ship building in Beypore are estuarine port, availability of timber, river transportation of timber, attitude of local rulers towards trade and traders, trade relations with the Arabs and the Portuguese, growth of skilled and non-skilled labours, etc.