Tamil Nadu History NCERT Chap-8 Class 11

Chap 8

Sangam Age

Chronology:
--Shilapattigaram + Deepvamsa + Mahavamsa = Gajbaghu 2(Sri Lanka)  and  Cheran sengutuvan(Chera dynasty) = both are contemprorary. (Deepvamsa and Mahavamsa both are chronicles of Sri Lanka = also mentions coronation of Ashoka=coming to throne killing his brother)
--Roman coins = by roman emperor of 1^st cent AD
--Above resources suggest = 3Cent BCE-3 Cent AD
                    But recent excavation = at Keezhadi = carbon dating = 6^th cent BCE
                    Thus Sangam is much older à Sangam people knew how to write
                    Agriculture  and  cattle rearing(including meat) + High std of living.

Literature:
Epic = Sillapathigaram + Manimegalai
3 Sangam:
                     1^st =held at Madurai= no literary work servived
                     2^nd =held at Kapdapuram= only Tolkappiyam = work on tamil grammer but give socio-economic condition 
                     3^rd =held at Madurai= epics

Ettutogai and pattupattu = Aham(love) + Puram(valour) = belonged to Kilukanakku group = Post sangam = a continuation of Sangam.

Political History:
Chera + Chola + Pandya

Chera
--Kerala
--Cheran Senguttuvan (2^nd cent AD)=famous ruller à brother wrote  shilapathigaram
--Cheran Senguttuvan === expedition to Himalya = brought stone to Pattini statue= started Pattini cult. or worship of  Kannagi(The ideal wife in Tamil Nadu)
--Consecration ceremony = Sri lanka= Gajbhau 2 came = that’s why mentioned in Shilapathigaram , deepvamsa and mahavamsa.

Chola
--Andhra Pradesh
--Karaikal =famus ruler
--battle of Venni= defeted confideration of Chera and 11 others
--reclamation of forest land
--Built kallani dam  across  kaveri  river.(still exist)

Pandyan
--South Tamil Nadu
--Began to decline due to attack of kalabhras.

Society
-- 5 types of Land (profession , god)

Sr.No	Type  of Land	Profession	God
1	Marudam	Agriculture	Indra
2	Kurinji(Hilly tracks)	Hunter and Gatherers	Murugan
3	Mullai(Pastoral)	Cattle rearer(Milk etc)	Vishnu
4	Neydal(coastal)	Fishing	Varuna
5	Palai(Desert)	Robbery	Korravi

Minore chiefton
--under chera , chola, pandya = but has independent identity as well
--patronised tamil poets
Polity

--Hereditary = Monarch
--Royal emblem= carp(pandya) , tiger(Chola) and bow(chera)
--Revenue= land(major) + custom duty and fine(minor)


Other god= dead hero faught in battle à stone statue

Other tibes= Irula , naga, Vedars etc lived.

Women
--Women poet= Avvaiyar, Nachchelliyar and  Kakkaipadiniyar
--Courage of women praised in many poem
--Love marriage
--Chaste life of women promoted
--Sati system prevalent
--Dancers were patronized by kings and nobles

Fine arts:
--Dancing bard =dancing community= kannigiyar
--Singing bard= singing community=  Panar and Viraliyar
--Jallikattu == one of the oldest living ancient traditions =Yeru thazhuvuthal(in Sangam Age).

Economy
--Mainly Agricultural
--Internal trade mostly = Barter system
--External trade = first Greek  then  Roman……Roman coins are found in ports
--Port city= Arikamedu, Puhar(Most important), Tondi, musiri, Korkai etc.
--Export= spices, ivory, cotton etc
--Import= Horses, Gold, sweet wine etc.

Common People:
Sangam literature: 3 category of people=
-- Landowner=Vellar ;
--Ploughmen=Uzhawar or uzhavar
--Slave=Adimai
End(3^rd cent AD)
--Kalabhras  occupied many regions and spread = Buddhism and  Jainism à later defeted by Pandya and Pallava.

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With reference to the Sangam age, Kothu and Yazhs were used for
A. Guarding temples
B. Jallikattu (Bull fighting)
C. Entertainment

D. Charity

Learning:
--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.
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Consider the following statements.
1. The Yavanas are mentioned in detail in Sangam literature epics such as Pattinappalai.
2. The Yavanas engaged in trade with the early Cholas in the Sangam period.
Which of the above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. None of the above
Learning: In Sanskrit sources, the usage of the words "Yona", "Yauna", "Yonaka", "Yavana" or
"Javana" appears repeatedly, and particularly in relation to the Greek kingdoms which neighboured
or sometimes occupied the Punjab region over a period of several centuries from the 4th century
BCE to the first century CE.
Examples are the Seleucid Empire, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the Indo-Greek Kingdom.
The Yavanas are mentioned in detail in Sangam literature epics such as Pattinappalai, describing
their brisk trade with the Early Cholas in the Sangam period.