History & Civics
What were the key factors that made the Sangam Age an economically prosperous period in Tamil history?
Answer
There were many key factors that made the Sangam Age an economically prosperous period in Tamil history.
- Thriving Agriculture — Fertile land and well-developed irrigation supported the cultivation of many crops like rice, sugarcane, millets, coconut, cotton, spices, tamarind and sandalwood. Paddy was the main crop.
- Trade and Commerce — Local markets came up and they were known as Angadis. Both Day Market (Nalangadi) and Evening Bazaar (Allangadi) existed in port towns. The expansion of trade led to the growth of towns. Both internal and overseas trade flourished, especially with Rome, Southeast Asia, and other parts of India.
- Port cities — Cities like Puhar (Kaveripattinam) became major centers for maritime trade. Korkai was the chief port in Madurai, capital of the Pandyan kingdom. Ports of Naura (Cannanore), Tyndia (Ponnai) and Muziris (Cranganore) were the leading ports on the west coast.
- Stable rule — The Chera, Chola, and Pandya dynasties provided stable governance and patronized trade and commerce.
- Industry and Crafts — Weaving and spinning were important crafts during the Sangam period, with Uraiyur and Madurai as main centers for producing and exporting fine cotton fabrics. Other crafts included carpentry, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, along with fishing and hunting as significant occupations.
Related Questions
Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow:
"Early Cholas ruled over the kingdom of Tamil Nadu during the pre and post Sangam period (C. 600 BCE to 300 CE). Their early capitals were Urayur/Uraiyur (Tiruchirapalli) and Kaveripattinam. Mention of the early Chola, Chera and Pandayas is made in the Ashokan inscriptions (second and thirteenth rock edits). Karikala Chola was the most prominent of the early Cholas who is referred to in a number of Sangam poetic compositions."
(Source: https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/84174/3/Unit-7.pdf)
(a) How did the location of the Chola kingdom contribute to its agricultural prosperity?
(b) Discuss King Karikalan's contributions to the Chola dynasty, focusing cn his military achievements and the construction of Kallanai.
(c) How did the Cholas contribute to Tamil art, literature, and architecture?
The Sangam Age is considered a golden age due to its flourishing literature, societal advancements, and the contributions of the Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. With reference to this, answer the following questions:
(a) How does Sangam literature provide insights into the political and cultural life of this period?
(b) How do other Tamil poems provide a comprehensive picture of life during the Sangam Age?
(c) What themes dominate Sangam literature, and why are they important?
The fall of these Tamil dynasties marked the end of an era, but their contributions remained deeply rooted in Tamil history and culture. With reference to this, answer the following questions:
(a) What factors contributed to the decline of the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms?
(b) How did these dynasties leave a lasting impact on Tamil trade, literature, and cultural heritage?
(c) Discuss the role of Sangam literature in preserving the legacy of the Tamil dynasties.
With reference to the picture given below answer the following questions.
(a) Identify the picture.
(b) Why was it erected?
(c) Describe its significance.