The Sangam Age — Early South India

• What the Sangam Age was; when it occurred.
• The three Tamil kingdoms: Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas.
• Sangam literature — what it tells us about life in ancient south India.
• Trade — south India's role in ancient world trade networks.

What is the Sangam Age?

• Period: approximately 300 BCE – 300 CE (some scholars extend to 600 CE).
• "Sangam" = assembly of Tamil poets.
• Three legendary Sangams (assemblies of poets) held in Madurai — where Tamil poets composed and debated.
• Our main source of information: Sangam poetry — thousands of poems compiled in anthologies (Purananuru, Akananuru, Tolkappiyam).

The Three Tamil Kingdoms

• Kingdoms fought each other frequently — but also had peaceful periods of trade and culture.
• Roman coins found in Tamil Nadu → evidence of trade with Roman Empire.

Sangam literature as a source

Sangam poems are divided into two groups:

• Akam (inner/love poetry): poems about love, relationships, nature — coded by tinai (five landscapes, each associated with a type of love situation).
• Puram (outer/war poetry): poems about war, heroism, kings, death.

Key texts: Tolkappiyam (Tamil grammar), Thirukkural (by Thiruvalluvar — ethics, love, statecraft; ~133 BCE–5th century CE).

Society in the Sangam Age

• Society was not rigidly caste-based; birth mattered less than occupation and valor.
• Warriors (velar) had high status.
• Poets were respected; kings patronised them generously.
• Women poets existed — Avvaiyar (multiple poets by this name) were celebrated.
• Merchants (vanigar) played key roles in trade.
• Chiefs and kings called Vel or Ko — gave gifts of cattle, gold to poets and warriors.

Trade

South India was a major trading hub:

• Exports: black pepper, pearls, gems, ivory, fine muslin (from Madurai), sandalwood.
• Imports: wine, gold, horses (from Rome and Arabia).
• Major ports: Puhar (Kaveri pattinam) — Chola port; Tondi — Chera port; Korkai — Pandya port (pearls).
• Roman gold coins found in large quantities in Tamil Nadu → shows sustained Rome–south India trade.
• Poem in Purananuru mentions ships from distant lands coming to Puhar.

Decline of Sangam Age

• Around 3rd–4th century CE, the three kingdoms weakened.
• Kalabhras (mysterious dynasty) disrupted the Tamil kingdoms temporarily.
• Revival came with the Later Cholas and Pallavas in the 6th–9th centuries.

• What is the Sangam Age? Why is it called that?
• Name the three Tamil kingdoms and their capitals.
• What are the two types of Sangam poetry? What topics do they cover?
• What goods did south India export to Rome?
• What does the discovery of Roman coins in Tamil Nadu tell us?

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on the Sangam Age.