Sangam period
Tamilakam, located in the tip of South India during the Sangam Period, ruled by Chera dynasty, Chola dynasty and the Pandyan dynasty
Alternative namesSangam Age, Third Sangam period, Last Sangam period
Geographical rangeIndian subcontinent
PeriodIron Age India
Datesc.  600 BCE – c. 300 CE
Major sitesKeezhadi excavation site, Kodumanal, Arikamedu, Murugan Temple, Saluvankuppam, Adichanallur

The Sangam period or age (Tamil: சங்ககாலம், caṅkakālam, Malayalam: സംഘകാലം, saṅkakālam), particularly referring to the third Sangam period, is the period of the history of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sri Lanka (then known as Tamilakam) dating back to c. 3rd century CE.[1] It was named after the mythical and legendary Sangam academies of poets and scholars centered in the city of Madurai.[2]

In Old Tamil language, the term Tamilakam (Tamiḻakam, Purananuru 168. 18) referred to the whole of the ancient Tamil-speaking area,[3] corresponding roughly to the area known as southern India today, consisting of the territories of the present-day Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, parts of Andhra Pradesh, parts of Karnataka and northern Sri Lanka[4][5] also known as Eelam.[6][7]

History

Main articles: History of Tamil Nadu and History of Kerala

See also: First Sangam, Second Sangam, and Third Sangam

According to Tamil legends, there were three Sangam periods, namely Head Sangam, Middle Sangam and Last Sangam period. Historians use the term Sangam period to refer the last of these, with the first two being legendary. It is also called the last Sangam period (Tamil: கடைச்சங்க பருவம், Kadaiccanga paruvam),[8] or third Sangam period (Tamil: மூன்றாம் சங்க பருவம், Mūnṟām sanka paruvam).

The Sangam literature is thought to have been produced in three Sangam academies of each period. The evidence on the early history of the Tamil kingdoms consists of the epigraphs of the region, the Sangam literature, and archaeological data. The period between 600 BCE to 300 CE, Tamilakam was ruled by the three Tamil dynasties of Pandya, Chola and Chera, and a few independent chieftains, the Velir.

Sangam Time span No. of Poets Kingdom[9] Books[9]
First 4440 years[9] 549[9] Pandiya No books survived
Second 3700 years[9] 1700[9] Pandiya Tolkāppiyam (author - Tolkāppiyar)
Third 1850 years[9] Pandiya covers entire corpus of Sangam Literature

Literary sources

Main articles: Sources of ancient Tamil history, Sangam literature, and The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature
Ilango Adigal is the author of Silappatikaram, one of the five great epics of Tamil literature.[10]
Ilango Adigal is the author of Silappatikaram, one of the five great epics of Tamil literature.[10]

There is a wealth of sources detailing the history, socio-political environment and cultural practices of ancient Tamilakam, including volumes of literature and epigraphy.[6]

Culture

Further information: Economy of ancient Tamil country, Agriculture in ancient Tamil country, and Industry in ancient Tamil country

The Sangam Tamils enjoyed a high degree of cultural life. Their interests in education, literature, music, dance, drama and festivals have been described in the Sangam literature.

Society

The fourfold Vedic system of caste hierarchy did not exist during Sangam period. The society was organized by occupational groups living apart from each other..[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. (20 September 2019). "Keezhadi excavations: Sangam era older than previously thought, finds study". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  2. ^ Dr. Anjali (2017). Social and Cultural History of Ancient India. Lucknow: OnlineGatha—The Endless Tale. pp. 123–136. ISBN 978-93-86352-69-9.
  3. ^ Saju, M. T. (20 September 2019). "Carbon dating confirms Keeladi 3 centuries older". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  4. ^ Wilson, A.Jeyaratnam (2000). Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism: Its Origins and Development in 19th and 20th Centuries. "They had earlier felt secure in the concept of the Tamilakam, a vast area of "Tamilness" from the south of Dekhan in India to the north of Sri Lanka...". ISBN 9780774807593. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  5. ^ Pierre-Yves Manguin; A Mani; Geoff Wade (2011). Early Interactions Between South and Southeast Asia: Reflections on Cross Cultural exchange. originally imported from Kerala to Tamilakam(Southern India) to Illam(Sri Lanka). ISBN 9789814345101.
  6. ^ a b Abraham, Shinu (2003). "Chera, Chola, Pandya: using archaeological evidence to identify the Tamil kingdoms of early historic South India". Asian Perspectives. 42 (2): 207–223. doi:10.1353/asi.2003.0031. hdl:10125/17189. S2CID 153420843.
  7. ^ "Women, Transition, and Change: A Study of the Impact of Conflict and Displacement on Women in Traditional Tamil Society". 1995.
  8. ^ Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The smile of Murugan on Tamil literature of South India. Brill. p. 46.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Daniélou, Alain (11 February 2003). A Brief History of India. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781594777943.
  10. ^ Rosen, Elizabeth S. (1975). "Prince ILango Adigal, Shilappadikaram (The anklet Bracelet), translated by Alain Damelou. Review". Artibus Asiae. 37 (1/2): 148–150. doi:10.2307/3250226. JSTOR 3250226.
  11. ^ Nath sen, Sailendra (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization (Second ed.). Routledge. p. 202.

Bibliography

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