1. Sangam Age, Tamil Literature and the Great Dynasties
Tamil is one of the oldest living languages of the world and was declared India's first Classical Language in 2004. This lesson covers Sangam literature, the great works of Tamil and the dynasties that ruled Tamil Nadu until the colonial period.
Sangam age and literature
- The Sangam age is the early historic period of Tamil Nadu, roughly from about 300 BCE to 300 CE. The three ruling dynasties were the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas (the 'Moovendar').
- Tradition speaks of three Sangams (academies of poets) held under Pandya patronage, the last at Madurai.
- Tolkappiyam, written by Tolkappiyar, is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar. It has three parts: Ezhuthathikaram (letters), Sollathikaram (words) and Porulathikaram (subject matter).
- The main Sangam collections are Ettuthogai (Eight Anthologies) and Pathuppattu (Ten Idylls). Pathinenkilkanakku (Eighteen Minor Works) includes Thirukkural and Naladiyar.
- Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar has 1,330 couplets in 133 chapters, in three sections: Aram (virtue), Porul (wealth) and Inbam (love).
- The Five Great Epics: Silappathikaram (Ilango Adigal), Manimekalai (Seethalai Sathanar), Civaka Cintamani (Thiruthakkathevar), Valayapathi and Kundalakesi (Nathakuthanar).
Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas
- Pallavas (capital Kanchipuram): Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I ('Mamallan') built rock-cut temples. Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) built the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram and the Kailasanathar temple at Kanchipuram.
- The Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1984).
- Imperial Cholas (capital Thanjavur, later Gangaikonda Cholapuram): Vijayalaya revived Chola power in the 9th century.
- Rajaraja I built the Brihadeeswarar (Big) Temple at Thanjavur, completed in 1010 CE. Rajendra I led a naval expedition to South-East Asia and built Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
- The Uttaramerur inscriptions of Parantaka I describe the kudavolai system of electing village assembly members.
- The Great Living Chola Temples (Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The later Pandyas ruled from Madurai.
Nayaks and the colonial period
- After the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayaks ruled Madurai, Thanjavur and Senji. Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai built the Thirumalai Nayak Mahal.
- The Nayaks of Madurai organised the palayakarar (poligar) system for revenue and defence.
- The English East India Company got land at Madras in 1639 (Francis Day) and built Fort St. George. Madras became the centre of the Madras Presidency.
- Palayakarar resistance: Puli Thevar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman (hanged at Kayathar in 1799), the Maruthu brothers of Sivaganga (1801) and Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivaganga.
- The Carnatic Wars (18th century) between the British and French were fought largely in the Tamil region.
Quick facts
- First Classical Language
- Tamil (2004)
- Oldest Tamil grammar
- Tolkappiyam by Tolkappiyar
- Thirukkural
- 1,330 couplets, 133 chapters, 3 sections
- Silappathikaram
- Ilango Adigal
- Manimekalai
- Seethalai Sathanar
- Big Temple, Thanjavur
- Rajaraja I, completed 1010 CE
- Shore Temple
- Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), Pallava
- Fort St. George
- English East India Company, Madras (from 1639)
💡 Learn epics as author pairs: Silappathikaram with Ilango Adigal, Manimekalai with Seethalai Sathanar, Civaka Cintamani with Thiruthakkathevar.
📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.
