This lesson is all about the glorious period in Tamil literature called சங்க காலம். People of that period divided their land into five types. They are குறிஞ்சி, முல்லை, பாலை, மருதம் and நெய்தல். Politically that period witnessed the threefold kingdoms of சேரநாடு, சோழநாடு and பாண்டியநாடு. Smaller kings called குறுநில மன்னர்கள் also ruled certain parts of the land. After சங்ககாலம் there were other periods of களப்பிரர் and பல்லவர். Sangam literature speaks about the life of the people and the rule of the kings of the period ranging from 300 BC and 300 AD.

    The five units of this lesson deal with the Tamilnadu of Sangam period, the three famous Tamil kings, the nature of goverance in that period, the social condition of sangam age and the next five hundred years called the Dark age.

    Fivefold classification of landscape is குறிஞ்சி, முல்லை, பாலை, மருதம் and நெய்தல். The life of people depended on the possible jobs in each locality. Hunting, cattle-rearing, stealing, farming and fishing were the prominent jobs. வேடர், ஆயர், கள்வர், உழுகுடியினர் and பரதவர் are the names given to these five groups of people.

    From திருவேங்கடம் in the North to குமரி in the South with seas in the East and the West the Tamil land was ruled by three dynasties called சேரன், சோழன் and பாண்டியன். There were other smaller kings also in this region. Each part of the land had its own rivers, capital and ports.

    சேரநாடு comprises four smaller kingdoms. It had its own flag, flower garland and government seal. About 25 kings of this region are mentioned in the unit.

    சோழநாடு included the present districts of தஞ்சாவூர், திருவாரூர், நாகப்பட்டினம், திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி and புதுக்கோட்டை besides a part of கடலூர், கரூர் and பெரம்பலூர் Districts. The granary of Tamil land with உறையூர் as the capital, and பூம்புகார் as the port, was ruled by about 21 popular kings.

    பாண்டியநாடு contained the present southern districts with வையை and பொருனை as the main rivers and தொண்டி and கொற்கை as the ports. Fish is the insignia of these kings. There were about 25 very famous kings.

    சேதிநாடு, ஓய்மாநாடு and கொங்குநாடு were smaller regions besides the three kingdoms. பேகன் and குமணன் had their own lands too.

    Sangam Age is known for its systematic goveranance through several committees like ஐம் பெருங்குழு and எண்பேராயம். All the living places were administered by people elected by குடவோலை method; kings used to move within their areas even at nights to protect their people.

    Culture and Civilization were at their heights during this Age.

    Jainism entered Tamil land during this age. களப்பிரர் reigned supreme for the next two and a half centuries, ஐம்பெரும் காப்பியங்கள் were contributed at the end of the Sangam age.

    You will therefore learn all about Tamil development in this Sangam age, remembered even now as the most dynamic and creative age of the Tamils.