ANCIENT TAMILAKAM

THE PRESENTATION SHOWS ABOUT THE SMALL DETAILS ABOUT ANCIENT TAMILAKAM.

1. O potter O potter Like a tiny white lizard hugging the spoke of a turning cart wheel is carried to places afar, I have been a part of all his joys and sorrows. He has passed away now. Make sure the urn for his burial is wide enough for me too. ANCIENT TAMILAKAM

2. Rock chamber Kudakkallu

3. Sarcophagus Dolmens

4. The practice of burying the remains of the deceased by placing them it in a big urn prevailed in ancient Tamilakam . Such urns were known as burials( nannangadi ). In some areas big stones were placed above such urn burials. Locally available stones were used for this. Stone circle, dolmen, cist, rock chamber, thoppikkallu ( tomb stone), kudakkallu(umbrella stone), sarcophagus, menhir,etc.were remarkable among them. They are known as the megalithic monuments and the period when they were constructed is known as the megalithic period. The megalithic monuments , ancient Tamil songs, coins, travelogues, and a few Tamil inscriptions are the major sources of information on the history of ancient tamilakam .

5. Different types of iron tools have been discovered from these megalithic monuments. They include sword,spear,knife,hook , lamp, nail and so on. Hence ,this period is known as iron age in the south Indian history. Besides iron tools,clay pots,beads,etc.were also found from these monuments . Roman coins were also discovered from a few monuments. Black and red wares were used in that period. Many megalithic monuments have been found from different parts of south India. Kodumanal , alagarai , thirukambaliyoor , pazhani , adichanellur , cheramanangad , marayoor , and umichipoyil are the major places among them.

6. IRON TOOLS

7. SANGAM LITERATURE The megalithic monuments and the ancient Tamil songs belong to the same period. The region ranging from tirupati in andhra Pradesh to kanyakumari . This included Kerala as well was called tamilakam in ancient period. The ancient Tamil songs provide more information about the human life in the ancient tamilakam . The collection of these ancient Tamil songs is known as sangam literature. Sangam literature is the most ancient among the available Tamil literature. It is believed that these were compiled in the period between BCE 300 and CE300.

8. O earth ! Whether you are plain or jungle Hill or valley You are good only if the virtuous folks reside there You have no virtue of your own The line given above was written by auvaiyyar , a famous poet during sangam period. Like auvvaiyar , there were several women poets during that period.Kapilar,paranar , mathurainakkeeran , Palaigauthamanar,etc were the major poets of the period.

9. Sangam works Major works Pathupattu Thirumuraikattupadai mathuraikanchi Ettuthokai Akananuru Purananur Pathipattu pathinenkeezhkanaku Thirukural Grammer text Tholkapiyam Mahakavya Chilapthikaram Category

10. The ancient tamil songs are classified into akampattukal and purampattukal . The vtheme of akampatukal is mainly personal and family affairs. The purampattukal treat external affairs like war and trade. The sangam literature illustrates physiography , plentiful resources , food habits, dress patterns, ornaments, recreational activities , customs and beliefs of the period.

11. Exchange system Sangam literature mentions the practice of exchange of goods known as noduthal . Allalavanam and Nalangadi were the markets of ancient tamilakam . The commodities for daily use in different tinais were obtained from these markets. People procure fish and rice by exchanging honey, ghee and tubers. Umananur was the major exchange merchant group in ancient tamilakam . Umanaur exchanged spices, the major export commodity in ancient tamilakam . They collected dry fish and salt from the coastel area. The spices collected by the umananur were sold at trade centers in coastel towns from where they were exported to foreign countries.

12. Moovendans The trade was controlled by three power centers namely the cheras , the pandiyas , and the cholas . They were together called moovendans . The capital of the cheras , pandiyas , and the cholas were muchiri , madurai and uraiyur respectively. Thondi , vakai , Muchiri , mantai , kaveripttanam etc were the major port cities of the the period.

13. Ancient Tamilakam Megalithic monument Sangam literature Exchange system Moovendens Urn burials Stone circle Dolmen Thoppikkalu Pathuppattu Ettuthokai Noduthal Nalangadi Umanar Foreign trade Cholas Cheras Pandyas

14. SAJINA KS KSTC