Pyu

Not to be confused with: Pya

Pyu
← c. 100 BC–832 →
Capital	Prome
Languages	Pyu
Establishment
-Earliest foundation	1st century BC
-End of Pyu	832

Pyu (Burmese: , IPA [pjù]; also known as Pyuu, Pyus, or in Chinese records as Piao) was a collection of city-states found in the central and northern parts of modern-day Myanmar from about 100 BC to 832 CE.

History

The Pyu people arrived in Myanmar during about 100 BC, believably 94 BC, where they established the city kingdoms of Binnaka, Mongamo, Sri Ksetra, Peikthanomyo, Kutkhaing, Halin gyi Thanlwin, Thandwe, and Yoma. During the 7th century, possibly in 656, Pyu migrated its capital north, and abandoning the old capital. The exact location of the new capital is unknown, but it is known, based on records, that it was sacked by the Kingdom of Nanzhou during 832, ending Pyu's period of dominance.

Economy

See also: Pyu coinage

Coinage from Pyu.

The Pyu had developed a sophisticated irrigation system to help influence agriculture. Of the crops grown here, rice was the main food source, eaten along with other vegetables. The use of livestock and fish for food was also likely. The Pyu had learned about precious metals such as bronze, gold, iron, lead, and silver, crafting them into works of art, some of which would be sold.

The Pyu had traded from its north and its south. To the north were the Chinese, who welcomed them as trading partners. Arabs from the south came to trade in Pyu, referring to them as tircul.

The city-states of Pyu used silver currency. Many of these coins have holes punched in them so they may have been used as amulets for trade.

See also

• History of Myanma coinage

References

• Pyu city-states on the English Wikipedia
• Pyu on the German (Deutsch) Wikipedia
• Wicks, Robert S. (1992). Money, markets, and trade in early Southeast Asia: the development of indigenous monetary systems to AD 1400. SEAP Publications. p. 116. ISBN 0877277109. Retrieved 25 May 2011
• Chapter II The Pre-Pagan Period: The Urban Age of the Mon and the Pyu