The Sangam Age

The word 'Sangam', literally means:

1. Association
2. Involvement
3. Opposite
4. Kingdom

Answer

Association

Reason — 'Sangam' means an association or assembly, as the Sangam Age is named after the gatherings of Tamil poets and bards who composed literature in assemblies held at Madurai.

Tirukkural is a collection of Tamil couplets organised into ............... chapters.

1. 134
2. 133
3. 113
4. 143

Answer

133

Reason — Tirukkural is a collection of Tamil couplets organised into 133 chapters, each dealing with a specific subject.

The Tirukkural has three sections, namely

1. Aram, Porul and Inbam
2. Vanavar, Malaiyar and Udiyan
3. Tolkappiyam, Tirukkural and Tiruvalluvar
4. None of the above

Answer

Aram, Porul and Inbam

Reason — The 133 chapters of the Tirukkural are grouped into three sections — Aram (righteousness), Porul (wealth) and Inbam or Kamam (pleasure).

What are the box-like structures of stone slabs erected without the use of mortar called?

1. Memorial
2. Megaliths
3. Memorabilia
4. Pillars

Answer

Megaliths

Reason — Megaliths are box-like structures made of stone slabs resting on one another without any mortar, which acted as burial sites or commemorative memorials.

How are memorial stones a source of information?

1. Information about religious beliefs
2. Information about tools and implements
3. Information about life of people
4. All of the above

Answer

All of the above

Reason — The pottery, iron objects, and tools found in memorial stones show us what daily life, and religious beliefs were like for these people. Therefore, all the options are correct.

Megaliths contain

1. Skeletons
2. Pottery
3. Iron objects
4. All of the above.

Answer

All of the above.

Reason — Megaliths contained skeletons of the buried people along with grave goods like pottery and iron objects, so all the options are correct.

The Velirs extended patronage to poets who acted as

1. administrative agents
2. diplomats and caretakers
3. patrons of other arts
4. All of the above

Answer

diplomats and caretakers

Reason — The poets patronised by the Velirs played varied roles — as diplomats (Avvaiyar in Adhiyaman's court) and as caretakers (Kapilar cared for Pari's daughters after his death).

The brahmanas during Sangam Age were respectable and learned. They served as

1. Priests
2. Judicial officers
3. Astrologers
4. All of the above.

Answer

All of the above.

Reason — The brahmanas served the king always as priests and astrologers and occasionally as judicial officers.

The Vellalars were

1. landed aristocrats
2. priests
3. landless labourers
4. ploughmen

Answer

landed aristocrats

Reason — The Vellalars were landed aristocrats who cultivated the wetlands and held high offices.

Referring to the Sangam society which of the following is incorrect?

1. Uzhavar : ordinary ploughmen
2. Vellalars : landed aristocrats
3. Adimai : priests
4. Kadasiyar : landless labourers

Answer

Adimai : priests

Reason — Adimai were landless labourers, not priests. The priests were the brahmanas, so this pairing is incorrect.

(A) Tamil literature comprises five epics, besides the Tirukkural.

(R) Megaliths acted as burial sites or commemorative memorials.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Explanation — Besides the Tirukkural, the five epics offer a wealth of information on the era's music, dance, administration, and royal grandeur. Megaliths are large stones used in various types of ancient structures, often as burial sites or commemorative memorials.

(A) Sangam literature speaks of many tribes and traditional castes.

(R) The caste divisions and the tribal arrangement existed side by side.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(R) is the reason for (A)

Explanation — Sangam literature speaks of many tribes and traditional castes. This means that the caste divisions and the tribal arrangement existed side by side.

(A) The division of social groups into the rich and the poor was accepted as natural.

(R) The people were industrious and they believed in living well by earning wealth.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Explanation — The division of social groups into the rich and the poor was accepted as natural as poverty was considered the result of the past actions of men, not because people believed in earning wealth.

(A) The local chieftains who ruled in different parts of Tamil Nadu were called Velirs.

(R) They helped to resolve the disputes among the rulers.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Explanation — In Sangam literature, Velirs are portrayed as independent chieftains who ruled in bordering areas of the major ruling dynasties. They helped in settling disputes among the rulers and were also known for extending patronage to Tamil poets.

(A) During the Sangam Age, the brahmanas were a respectable and learned community.

(R) They used to serve the kings as priests and astrologers and occasionally as judicial officers.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(R) is the reason for (A)

Explanation — Brahmans were indeed respected during Sangam Age as they were learned man. Hence, they served the kings as priests, astrologers and judicial officers.

(A) During the Sangam Age, the inhabitants of parched zone used to live by plunder and cattle lifting.

(R) The inhabitants of the hilly areas subsisted on shifting agriculture and animal husbandry.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) is true but (R) is false.

Explanation — The inhabitants of the hilly areas were hunters and gatherers. It was the inhabitants of the pastoral tract who subsisted on shifting agriculture and animal husbandry.

(A) During the Sangam Age, paddy constituted the most commonly accepted medium of exchange.

(R) Paddy was sold by mentioning its price in terms of salt.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(R) is the reason for (A)

Explanation — Paddy was the most commonly accepted medium of exchange during the Sangam Age. Paddy was sold by mentioning its price in terms of salt.

(A) There was an extensive trade with the foreign countries during the Sangam Age.

(R) The gold and silver coins from the Roman Empire found in the interior of Tamil land indicate the extent of foreign trade.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(R) is the reason for (A)

Explanation — The gold and silver coins from the Roman Empire found in the interior of Tamil land indicate the extent of foreign trade during the Sangam Age.

(A) During the Sangam Age, there were female ascetics belonging to Buddhist or Jain tradition.

(R) The status of women in the Sangam Age was equal to that of men.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) is true but (R) is false.

Explanation — While women in the Sangam Age enjoyed significantly greater freedom, educational access, and respect compared to women in later historical periods or other contemporary civilizations, their status was not completely equal to men due to prevailing patriarchal norms.

Who was the author of Tirukkural? Name the three sections into which the chapters of Tirukkural are categorised.

Answer

The author of Tirukkural was Thiruvalluvar, Tamil poet and philosopher.

The three sections into which the chapters of Tirukkural are categorised are:

1. Aram (Righteousness)
2. Porul (Wealth)
3. Inbam or Kamam (Pleasure)

What are Megaliths? Why are they so called?

Answer

The Megaliths are box-like structures erected with the stone slabs, resting on each other without any mortar. Some megaliths are seen on surface while some are underground with stone circles or boulders placed on surface to serve as signpost to find the burial site.

Megaliths are called so because they are huge stones that acted as either burial sites or commemorative memorials. They are also known as memorial stones.

Briefly describe the human adaptation to land (tinai).

Answer

The Sangam anthologies describe the concept of tinai, according to which the whole land was divided into five tinais or divisions. The mode of human adaptation in each tinai was as follows:

1. Hilly backwoods (Kurinji) — The inhabitants of the hilly areas were hunters and gatherers.
2. Parched zones (Palai) — The inhabitants of the parched zone lived by plunder and cattle lifting.
3. Pastoral tract (Mullai) — The inhabitants of the pastoral tract subsisted on shifting agriculture and animal husbandry.
4. Wet land (Marutam) — The wetlands were inhabited by people subsisting on plough agriculture.
5. Littoral land (Neital) — The littoral land was inhabited by those dependent on fishing and salt extraction.

Who were the Vellalars during the Sangam Age?

Answer

The Vellalars were landed aristocrats, who cultivated the wetlands during the Sangam Age. They had close associations and held high positions of office with the three main dynasties, Cheras, cholas and Pandyas. They also carried out trade.

Name the main crops grown during the Sangam Period.

Answer

The main crops grown during the Sangam Period were rice, cotton, ragi, sugarcane, pepper, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, different varieties of fruits etc.

Name one centre of cotton trade and the products exported to foreign countries during the Sangam Age.

Answer

Uraiyur was one major centre of cotton trade.

The products exported to foreign countries during the Sangam Age were Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Ivory products, Pearls and Precious Stones.

Name the social divisions of Sangam period and the occupations associated with each one of them.

Answer

During the Sangam period, society was divided into different social divisions, each associated with specific occupations:

1. Ruling Class — This was the ruling class, which included kings and warriors.
2. Brahmins — The Brahmins were priests and scholars, and they occupied the highest position. They often played the role of Judicial officer.
3. Vaishyas — This group was engaged in trade and commerce. They were traders and artisans.
4. Vellalars — The Vellalars were primarily engaged in agriculture. They were landed aristocrats.
5. Others — They were ordinary ploughmen known as uzhavar and the landless labourers called as kadasiyar.

With reference to Sangam Age, answer the following questions:

(a) State why the Sangam Age is so called.

(b) Name the poet who composed the Tirukkural. Write a short note on any one of his celebrated works.

(c) What information do megaliths give about the Sangam Age?

Answer

(a) The word Sangam is the Tamil form of the Sanskrit 'Sangha' which means confluence or an assembly or an association. The Sangam Age refers to a period when bulk of Tamil literature was composed by a body of Tamil scholars and poets in three successive literary gatherings called Sangam. Hence, Sangam refers to Gatherings of poets and bards.

(b) Tirukkural was composed by a Tamil poet and philosopher named Thiruvalluvar.

The Tirukkural (or Kural) blends the teachings of the Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, and Kamasutra into brief, truth-preaching metrical proverbs. It is a collection of Tamil couplets organized into 133 chapters covering specific subjects from agriculture to governance. The chapters are grouped into three core sections:
(a) Aram (righteousness);
(b) Porul (wealth); and
(c) Inbam or Kamam (pleasure).

(c) Megaliths give us the following information about the Sangam Age:

1. Some megaliths contain more than one skeleton. This indicates that people belonging to the same family were buried in the same place though at different time periods.
2. Grave goods including pottery and iron objects contained in the Megaliths provide a useful insight about the life of people during the Sangam Age.
3. The number of agricultural tools compared to those meant for fishing and hunting are less, so it can be concluded that the megalithic people did not practice an advanced type of agriculture.
4. From the grave goods, religious beliefs of the megalithic people can also be inferred. For example, the presence of tridents in the graves, show their faith in Lord Shiva.
5. Megalithic culture includes a subsistence base consisting of agriculture, cattle rearing and fishing, the use of iron, and a period in which warfare and weapons were important.

With reference to the picture given alongside, answer the following:

(a) Identify the lady whose statue is depicted in the picture. Why was the lady revered?

(b) What was the position of women during the Sangam Age?

(c) What does the Tolkappiyam say about ways of living of the people during the Sangam age?

Answer

(a) The lady in the picture is Kannagi.

Kannagi is a legendary Tamil woman revered as the Goddess of Chastity due to her ultimate loyalty and virtue. Her worship was popularized by the Chera king Senguttuvan, allowing it to spread to distant regions including Malwa in the north and Sri Lanka in the south.

(b) The status of women in Sangam society was not equal to that of men. However, women enjoyed freedom of movement in society and the number of women poets of the age is a proof that the women were provided with good education. The Sangam society consisted of different kinds of women. There were married women who had settled down as dutiful housewives looking after their husbands and children. There were female ascetics belonging to Buddhist or Jain tradition like Kaundi Adigal and Manimegalai. There were a large number of courtesans.

(c) The Tolkappiyam was written by Tolkappiar, in second Sangam. It has mentioned four castes, namely, Brahmanas, Kings, Traders and Farmers. It ignores most of the other names of people. This show the influence of the Sanskritic social ideal. The Brahmans during the Sangam Age were a respectable and learned community. They served the king occasionally as judicial officers and always as priests and astrologers. The Vaishyas were assigned the duties of learning, performing sacrifice, making gifts, agriculture, protection of cows etc. The Vellalars were landed aristocrats who cultivated wetlands. The ordinary ploughmen were known as uzhavar and the landless labourers were known as kadasiyar and adimai.

With reference to the economy during the Sangam Age, answer the following questions:

(a) What was the main occupation of the people and the activities associated with it?

(b) Explain the organisation of internal trade.

(c) Explain the extent and significance of external trade.

Answer

(a) Agriculture was the main occupation of the people. The main crop was Rice while other crops included Cotton, Ragi, Sugarcane, Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Turmeric, Cinnamon, different varieties of fruits, etc. Construction of embankments and canals for irrigation was undertaken by the state. Rural activities like the cultivation of ragi and sugarcane, the making of sugar from the cane, and the harvesting and drying of grain are described in the Sangam poems in detail.

(b) Markets called Angadi were established in bigger towns. Internal trade was carried by caravans of Merchants with carts and pack-animals which carried their merchandise from place to place. Most of the trade was carried on by barter. Paddy constituted the most commonly accepted medium of exchange. Salt was sold for paddy. Paddy was sold by mentioning its price in terms of salt. Honey and roots were exchanged for fish oil. There were also hawkers who carried goods to the houses of the people.

(c) During the Sangam Age, the Tamil land conducted extensive foreign trade through major port cities like Saliyur, Bandar, Naura, Tyndis, and Muziris. Major exports included spices (pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric), ivory, pearls and precious stones, while imports primarily consisted of horses, gold, and glass. The scale of this international commerce, particularly with the Roman Empire, is well-documented in The Periplus of the Red Sea and further evidenced by large caches of Roman gold and silver coins discovered across the interior of the region.

How was the society in the Sangam Age different from that in the Vedic Age?

Answer

The society in the Sangam Age was different from that in the Vedic Age in following ways:

1. Social Classification - The society in the Sangam Age was organised by occupational groups while the society in Vedic Age was organised on the basis of castes.
2. Geographical Focus - Sangam society flourished in the southern, tropical Peninsula of India, deeply shaped by its coastal and hilly geography. Vedic society developed in the northern plains
3. Economic Drivers - While both societies engaged in agriculture and pastoralism, Sangam society featured a advanced maritime economy with port cities and international trade networks. Vedic society was initially pastoral and shifted into a deeply agrarian, land-locked economy with less emphasis on seafaring trade.
4. Position of Women - Women in the Sangam Age enjoyed a unique form of intellectual autonomy, contributing heavily as celebrated poets. While Early Vedic women also held high respect and participated in assemblies, Later Vedic society became rigidly patriarchal, progressively restricting women's public, educational, and religious freedoms.
5. Language- Vedic literature was composed in Vedic Sanskrit and organized into religious hymnal collections (Samhitas) that were passed down orally as Shruti (that which is heard). On the other hand, Sangam literature was composed in ancient Tamil and compiled into systematic anthologies.

Imagine you are transported in the Sangam Age by a time-machine. Describe the position of women, as seen by you.

Answer

The women here are enjoying respectable position in the society. They are free to move. Most of them are educated. A few women are very good poets. I can see that the women are not being suppressed. They are getting education without any discrimination. Some are dutiful home makers. They are ascetics belonging to Buddhits or Jain tradition. Some women are artists (singers or dancers). The women here are free to choose their life partners.

Find out the structures similar to megaliths or commemorative memorials in other civilisations of the world. List the similarities and dissimilarities between the megaliths and these structures.

Answer

Some structures similar to megaliths or commemorative memorials in other civilisations of the world are:

1. Newgrange site of Ireland
2. Gobekli Tepe of Turkey
3. Malta's megalithic temples
4. Stonehenge of England
5. Pyramids of ancient Egypt

Similarities:

1. They all are of neolithic period, built around 3000 BC to 2000 BC.
2. All are stone structure, made without using mortar.

Dissimilarities:

1. The differ in their height, shape and size.
2. Some have erect stones (pillars) while others have flat stone pieces. Stepped stones were used in pyramids.
3. Some of them are dome shaped (like Newgrange of Ireland), while a few are long barrow type(tumulus).

Read the plot of the two epics — Sillapadikaram and Manimekalai. Compare and contrast the women characters in these two epics with those of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Answer

The Sillapadikaram and Manimekalai are two outstanding works of Tamil Literature. Manimekalai is sequel of Sillapadikaram.

Sillapadikaram is story of Kovalan and his wife Kannagi. In this story Kovalan betrays Kannagi for other women and later realises his mistake and returns back to her. They then move to Madurai. The king of Madurai executes Kovalan on false charges of stealing anklet. Kannagi curses the king due to which he dies. Later Kannagi is worshipped like a Devi.

Manimekalai is the story of daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi. She was very beautiful artist. She was chased by a prince who wanted to marry her. She was helped by Buddhist angels to escape. Later the prince was killed and she walked away free.

Both these stories potray women who suffered and were harassed by the society in similar way as Sita and Draupadi suffered in Ramayana and Mahabharata, respectively. The women characters in Sillapadikaram and Manimekalai tend to have more agency and independence compared to those in Ramayana and Mahabharata. However, all the four epics feature women who exhibit strength, loyalty, and bravery in their own unique ways.