The Sangam Age

A history lesson for grade 9 of ICSE .

1. The Sangam Age A Fun history for a younger generation

2. Tamilakam , or Thamizhagam , refers to the geographical region inhabited by the ancient Tamil people . Tamilakam covered today's Tamil Nadu , Kerala , Puducherry , Lakshadweep and southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka SANGAM TERRITORY

3. Sources Thiruvalluvar Megaliths

4. Thiruvalluvar The Tirukkural ( திருக்குறள் , literally Sacred Verses ), or shortly the Kural , is a classic Tamil language text consisting of 1,330 couplets or Kurals . The text is divided into three books, each with aphoristic teachings on virtue ( aram , dharma ), wealth ( porul , artha ) and love ( inbam , kama ) Book I – Aṟam ( அறம் ): Book of Virtue ( Dharma ), dealing with moral values of an individual and essentials of yoga philosophy (Chapters 1-38) Book II – Poruḷ ( பொருள் ): Book of Polity ( Artha ), dealing with socio-economic values, polity, society and administration [54] (Chapters 39-108) Book III – Inbam ( இன்பம் ): Book of Love ( Kama ), dealing with psychological values and love (Chapters 109-133)

5. Megaliths Megaliths were constructed either as burial sites or commemorative (non-sepulchral) memorials. The former are sites with actual burial remains, such as dolmenoid cists (box-shaped stone burial chambers), cairn circles (stone circles with defined peripheries) and capstones (distinctive mushroom-shaped burial chambers found mainly in Kerala). The urn or the sarcophagus containing the mortal remains was usually made of terracotta. Megaliths are very large stones found at most sites of burial from the Sangam Age. The said structure was box-like and was constructed by arranging stone slabs without the application of mortar. Sometimes, the builder would cut an opening into one of the slabs. These structures are also known as memorial stones.

6. Tamil kingdoms

7. Cheras The Cheras ruled over large parts of modern-day Kerala. Vanji was the capital of the Cheras. Musiri and Tondi were the important seaports in this period. The emblem of Cheras is the ‘bow and arrow’. The first-century Pugalur inscriptions references to 3 generations of Chera kings. Senguttuvan (2nd century CE) was the prominent ruler of the Chera dynasty. The military achievements of Senguttuvan have been recorded in the epic Silapathikaram, which talks about his Himalayan expedition where he vanquished many rulers from northern India. Senguttuvan introduced in Tamil Nadu the Pattini cult or the worship of Kannagi as the ideal wife. He was the first to send an ambassador to China from South India.

8. Cholas The Chola kingdom of the Sangam period stretched from the present-day Tiruchi district to Southern Andhra Pradesh. Initially, the capital of the Cholas was Uraiyur. Later it was shifted to Puhar (also called Poompuhar). King Karikala was a prominent king of the Sangam Chola dynasty. The insignia/emblem of the Cholas was ‘tiger’. Pattinappalai written by Kadiyalur Uruttirangannanar depicts his life as well as military achievements. Various Sangam poems mention the Battle of Venni where he defeated an alliance of the Cheras, Pandyas and 11 smaller chieftains. Vahaipparandalai was another important battle fought by Karikala. Trade and commerce prospered during his rule. He also constructed irrigation tanks near river Kaveri to make available water for reclaimed land from the forest for farming.

9. Pandyas The Pandyas reigned over the Southern region of modern-day Tamil Nadu. Madurai was the capital of Pandyas. Their emblem was the ‘Carp’. King Neduncheliyan was also called Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan. According to mythology, the curse of the Kannagi, wife of Kovalan, burnt and destroyed Madurai. The socio-economic condition of the seaport of Korkai was mentioned in Maduraikkanji which was written by Mangudi Maruthanar.

10. Local Chieftains Apart from the three Tamil kingdoms, a number of local chieftains ruled in different parts of Tamil Nadu. They were known as Velirs. The Sangam literature furnishes lot of information about them. The most famous among the Velirs were called Seven Patrons or Kadaiyelu Vallalgal. They were Pari, Ori, Malayan, Elini, Pegan, Aay, and Nalli. The local chieftains had extended patronage to the Tamil poets like Kabilar,, Avvaiyar, Nallathanar and Perunchithiranar. In turn, these poets hailed them for their generosity. They had also extended their help to resolve any disputes between the rulers. For example, Avvaiyar played the role of a diplomat in the court of Adhiyaman. Another Sangam poet, Kapilar had taken care of Pari’s daughter’s after his death. These local chieftains made generous donations to the poets, bards and their consorts. Like the Chera, Chola and Pandya rulers, the local chieftains had also played a significant role in the political, social and cultural domains during the Sangam Age

11. Sangam Literature Tolkappiyam refers to the five-fold division of lands - Kurinji (hilly tracks), Mullai (pastoral), Marudam (agricultural), Neydal (coastal) and Palai (desert). The people living in these five divisions had their respective chief occupations as well as gods for worship. Kurinji - chief deity was Murugan - chief occupation, hunting and honey collection. Mullai - chief deity Mayon (Vishnu) - chief occupation, cattle-rearing and dealing with dairy products.  Marudam - chief deity Indira - chief occupation, agriculture. Neydal - chief deity Varunan - chief occupation fishing and salt manufacturing. Palai - chief deity Korravai - chief occupation robbery. Tolkappiyam also refers to four castes namely arasar, anthanar, vanigar and vellalar. The ruling class was called arasar. Anthanars played a significant role in the Sangam polity and religion. Vanigars carried on trade and commerce. The vellalas were agriculturists. Other tribal groups like Parathavar, Panar, Eyinar, Kadambar, Maravar and Pulaiyar were also found in the Sangam society. Ancient primitive tribes like Thodas, Irulas, Nagas and Vedars lived in this period.

12. Sangam food and dress In the Sangam age, women and upper higher class men wore two garments, the lower garment, and the upper garment and called Kalingam. They used cotton, silk, and wool to make dresses and the leaf garment was also very popularly used during that period. The ornaments were worn by both men and women. People bartered fish oil, edible yams, honey, ghee, deer meat and wine with rice.

13. Sangam entertainment Poetry, music and dancing were popular among the people of the Sangam age. Liberal donations were given to poets by the kings, chieftains and nobles. The royal courts were crowded with singing bards called Panar and Viraliyar. They were experts in folk songs and folk dances. The arts of music and dancing were highly developed. A variety of Yazhs and drums are referred to in the Sangam literature. Dancing was performed by Kanigaiyar. Koothu was the most popular entertainment of the people Koothu Kattaikkuttu

14. Sangam position of women There is a plenty of information in the Sangam literature to trace the position of women during the Sangam age. Women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar flourished in this period and contributed to Tamil literature. The courage of women was also appreciated in many poems. Karpu or Chaste life was considered the highest virtue of women. Love marriage was a common practice. Women were allowed to choose their life partners. However, the life of widows was miserable. The practice of Sati was also prevalent in the higher strata of society. The class of dancers was patronised by the kings and nobles.

15. Sangam Economy The Sangam economy was simple and mostly self-sufficient. Agriculture was the main occupation and the chief crops were rice, cotton, ragi, sugarcane pepper, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon etc. Weaving, ship-building, metal working, carpentry, rope-making, ornament-making, making of ivory products, tanning etc were some of the handicrafts, which were widely practiced. The market place was known as avanam. This period also witnessed the emergence of various towns like Puhar, Uraiyur, Vanji, Tondi, Muzuris, Madurai, Kanchi, etc. Industry and crafts was given a fillip by a rising demand in the foreign markets.

16. Sangam agriculture The ancient Tamils cultivated a wide range of crops such as rice , sugarcane , millets , pepper , various grams, coconuts , beans , cotton , plantain , tamarind and sandalwood . Paddy was the main crop and different varieties of paddy such as Vennel , Sennel , Pudunel , Aivananel and Torai were grown in the wet land of Marutam . Sennel and pudunel were the more refined varieties. In a very fertile land, a Veli of land yielded 1000 Kalam of paddy. The peasants lived under the shady groves beyond the Marutam land. Each house had jack , coconut, palm , areca and plantain trees. Turmeric plants were grown in front of the houses and flower gardens were laid in between the houses. The Mullai people undertook the cultivation of fruit trees and crops for cattle. The sugarcane producers even employed mechanical contrivances to extract juices from it. In some plots, rotation of crops was followed – cotton and millet were grown simultaneously on a plot and after that, beans were cultivated on the same land. There, generally, was surplus from the produce. Each village was almost self-sufficient and if necessary people bought additional commodities from neighboring villages. Such trade happened under the barter system , with paddy and salt being used as the medium of buying and selling. The agricultural surplus produced by the villages is one of the reasons for the growth of urban centers in ancient Tamilakam

17. Sangam trade Trade, both inland and foreign, was well organised and briskly carried our throughout the period Internal trade was brisk, caravans of merchants with carts and pack-animals carried their merchandise from place to place, Barter played a large part in all transactions and salt was an important commodity of trade. The Sangam period witnessed the rise of maritime activity. External trade was carried on between South India and Hellenistic kingdom of Egypt and Arabia as well as the Malay Archipelago. The author of the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea (75 A.D.) gives the most valuable information about the trade between India and the Roman Empire. He mentions the port of Naura (Cannanore) Tyndis (Tondi), Muzuris (Musiri, Cranganore), and Nelcynda as the leading ones on the west coast. Other ports of South India were Balita (Varkalai), Comari, Colchi, Puhar (Khaberis of Ptolemy), Saliyur, Poduca (Arikamedu) and Sopatma (Markanam). A landmark in the development of communications was the discovery of the monsoon winds by the Greek sailor Hippalus in around A.D. 46-47. This led to in­crease in volume of trade. Large vessels made up of single logs called Sangara and very large vessels, called Colondia made voyages. The Periplus of the Erythraen Sea, written by an anonymous Greek navigator, gives details of Indian exports to the Roman Empire. The main exports were: pepper, pearls, ivory, silk, spike-nard, malabathrum, diamonds, saffron, precious stone and tortoise shell.

18. The end