The Sangam Age

Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1

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

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

Answer

133

Question 2

What are the box-like structures erected with the stone slabs, resting on each other without any mortar called?

1. Megaliths
2. Tirukkural
3. Couplets
4. Malaiyar

Answer

Megaliths

Question 3

The Tirukkural had 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

Question 4

How are Megaliths or 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

Question 5

Which of the following is not a sobriquet for Chera kings?

1. Vanavar
2. Villavar
3. Malaiyar
4. Udiyan

Answer

Udiyan

Question 6

Which of the following is incorrect?

1. Chera Kingdom : bow and arrow
2. Chola Kingdom : Tiger
3. Pandya kingdom : crocodile
4. Pandya kingdom : fish

Answer

Pandya kingdom : crocodile

Question 7

The names of the Sangam Chola kingdom indicate

1. Powerful kings
2. Rich water resources
3. Overseas trade
4. All of the above.

Answer

Rich water resources

Question 8

Karikalan was the most popular Sangam Chola ruler because

1. he was a great warrior and diplomat
2. he fortified his capital making it a trade-centre
3. he encouraged growth of agriculture and commerce
4. All of the above

Answer

All of the above

Question 9

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

All of the above

Question 10

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

Question 11

Which of the following port-kingdom pair is incorrect?

1. Puhar : Chola
2. Saliyur : Panda
3. Uraiyur : Chola
4. Bandar: Chera

Answer

Puhar : Chola

Short Answer Questions

Question 1

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

Answer

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

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

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

Question 2

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. Sometimes there was an opening cut into one of the sides. 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.

Question 3

Name any four divisions (tinais) mentioned in the Sangam literature.

Answer

Four divisions (tinais) mentioned in the Sangam literature are:

1. Backwoods (Kurinji)
2. Parched zones (Palai)
3. Pastoral tract (Mullai)
4. Wet land (Marutam)

Question 4

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.

Question 5

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.

Question 6

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.

Structured Questions

Question 1

With reference to Sangam Age, answer the following questions:

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

(b) Name the three kingdoms along with their capitals that existed during the Sangam Age.

(c) Describe the achievements of Chera ruler, Senguttuvan; and Chola ruler, Karikalan.

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) The three kingdoms along with their capitals that existed during the Sangam Age are:

(c) Achievements of Senguttuvan — He was the most popular king of the Sangam Cheras. The sangam works, Padirruppattu and Ahananuru provide a lot of information about him. His brother Illango Vadigal composed the Tamil Epic, Silappadikaram, which tells about his military achievements. Senguttuvan led an expedition up to the Himalayas. He crossed the river Ganges and defeated his enemies. He reached the Himalayas and hoisted the chera flag. Pattini cult, that is the worship of kannagi as the ideal wife, was started by him.

Achievements of Karikalan — He was the most popular king of Sangam cholas. At a very young age he proved his extraordinary ability of settling the disputes in his kingdom. He was a great warrior. He defeated the Chera and Pandaya kings at Venni. In another battle, Karikalan defeated a confederacy of nine princes. He extended his kingdom beyond Kanchipuram. Karikalan had become popular for the development activities in his kingdom. He built dam called Kallanai across river Kaveri. He fortified the port-city Kaveripoompattinam or Puhar and made it his capital. Karikalan also patronised Tamil poets.

Question 2

With reference to the society that existed during the Sangam Age, answer the following questions:

(a) Explain the position of women during the Sangam Age.

(b) Name the social divisions of the Tamil land and the occupations associated with each one of them.

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

Answer

(a) The status of women in Sangam society was not equal to that of men. 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. Women also 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 worship of Kannagi or Pattini was perhaps a very early institution and was an extension of the worship of the Goddess of chastity.

(b) The social divisions of the Tamil land and the occupations associated with them were:

(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 preists 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.

Question 3

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 there was an extensive trade with foreign countries. According to the Sangam literature the Tamil land had certain commodities which were in great demand in foreign markets. These included pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, ivory products, pearls and precious stones. The main imports included horse, gold and glass. The port cities were the center of foreign trade. Saliyur in the Pandya country and Bandar in Chera were the most important ports. The Gold and Silver coins from the Roman empire found in the interior of the Tamil land indicate the extent of the trade. The Periplus of the Red Sea that describes navigation and trade of the Roman empire gives information on trade between India and the Roman empire. It also mentions Uraiyur where all the Pearls from coast was sent and exported. Naura, Tyndis and Muziris were leading ports on west coast.

Thinking Skills

Question 1

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. 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. Women in Sangam age were respected and were allowed intellectual pursuits. There were women poets like Avvaiyar and Nachchellair. Women in Vedic Age were also in respectable position but their education was not given importance. Also their position in society declined towards later Vedic age.
3. Sati-pratha was prevalent in Sangam Age while Vedic Age women could remarry after death of husband.
4. Primary deity of Sangam age was Murugan and that of Vedic age were Indra, Agni and Varuna.
5. Economy of Sangam Age was based on agriculture while Vedic economy was pastoral.

Question 2

Imagine you are transported in the Sangam Age by 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 getteng 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.

Question 3

Find out 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).

Question 4

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.