The earliest evidence of Carnatic music can be found in the musical traditions of the ancient Tamil people. The ancient Tamils developed a system of music called Tamizh Isai, which was based on the seven-note scale (Saptha Swaras) and used various musical instruments, including the yazh (a stringed instrument) and the kudam (a percussion instrument). Tamizh Isai was used for religious ceremonies and cultural performances.
Carnatic music later developed under the influence of the Hindu religion and the patronage of the ruling dynasties of South India. In the 14th century, the Vijayanagara Empire emerged as a powerful kingdom in South India and became a major center for the development of Carnatic music. The Vijayanagara rulers were great patrons of music and dance, and they encouraged the growth of musical schools and institutions. They also commissioned the composition of many new musical works, including kritis, swaras, and jathis.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Carnatic music flourished under the rule of the Maratha Empire and the Mysore Kingdom. The Maratha rulers were great connoisseurs of music and dance, and they encouraged the growth of Carnatic music in their courts. The Mysore ruler Krishnaraja Wodeyar III was a great patron of music and dance, and he commissioned the composition of many new musical works.
In the 19th century, Carnatic music came into contact with Western music due to the British colonization of India. Some Carnatic musicians began to incorporate Western elements into their music, such as the use of the piano and the violin. However, Carnatic music retained its traditional character and continued to be based on the seven-note scale and the use of ragas and talas.
Today, Carnatic music is a thriving art form and is performed by musicians all over the world. It is considered one of the most sophisticated and complex musical systems in the world, and it is admired for its beauty, its emotional depth, and its spiritual significance.