The Chera empire's rule was the Golden Era, the local kings divided the state between themself. They were the Zamorins of Calicat, The Raja of Cochin, the Kolathiris of Cannanore and the king of Travancore. By the 15th century the Zamorins had 1/2 the Malabar Under his rule.

Vasco Da Gama discovered the route to the land of Kerala during the 15 th century. His journey was followed by compatriot, Pedro Careal was more commercially inclined . Vasco Da Gama landed in Kappad near Calicut in 1498 and he wanted to join hands with the king of Calicut for trade and commerce but the king refused to do so. Pedro Careal joined hands with the king of cochin who wanted to defeat the rival king of Calicut. Vasco Da Gama came again in 1502 he again tryed to convince the king of calicut but was in vain so he joined hangs with the king of cochin.
The King of cochin was defeated by the Portugese in 1509 and establised their supremacy over the Malabar for 150 years.

The Dutch were aware of the Portuguese geting power so they approched the king of Calicut with view to expell the Potuguese from Kerala. The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and establish their hold over the Cochin and Cannanore estabising their monopoly of Trade. They introduced new tecniques in dyeing agriculture ,etc