The most prominent of the early kingdoms of Kerala was the:

Kulasekhara dynasty
Ay Dynasty
Chera Dynasty
Pallava Dynasty Answer: c

The correct answer is c) Chera Dynasty.

The Chera Dynasty was one of the three major kingdoms that ruled Kerala in the early centuries of the Common Era. The other two kingdoms were the Chola Dynasty and the Pandya Dynasty. The Chera Dynasty was founded in the 3rd century BCE and lasted until the 12th century CE. The capital of the Chera Kingdom was Vanchi, which is located in present-day Thrissur district in Kerala.

The Chera Dynasty was a powerful and prosperous kingdom. It had a strong navy and was involved in trade with other parts of India and the world. The Chera kings were patrons of art and literature. The Sangam literature, which is a collection of poems written in Tamil, is a valuable source of information about the Chera Dynasty.

The Chera Dynasty declined in the 12th century CE due to a number of factors, including internal conflicts and attacks from the Chola Dynasty. However, the Chera Dynasty left a lasting legacy on Kerala. Its culture and traditions continue to be an important part of the state’s identity.

The other options are incorrect because they were not among the three major kingdoms that ruled Kerala in the early centuries of the Common Era. The Kulasekhara dynasty was a later dynasty that ruled Kerala from the 12th to the 14th centuries CE. The Ay Dynasty was a small kingdom that ruled a part of Kerala in the 10th century CE. The Pallava Dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled a part of southern India from the 6th to the 9th centuries CE.