Question

To what extent do you think the political powers of Tamilagam influenced Sangam Age polity?

Answer 1

Sangam Age Polity:

1. The Sangam age has its roots in the Iron Age.
2. In the Iron age people were organised into chiefdoms.
3. From such communities of Iron Age emerged the Vendhars of the early historic period and the Velirs of the Sangam Age were Chieftains.
4. Among the political powers of the Sangam Age, the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas occupied pre-eminent positions.
5. They were known as Muvendhar.
6. The Muvendhar controlled the major towns and ports of the Sangam period.
7. The Cheras called Keralaputras controlled the region of present day Kerala and also the Western parts of Tamil Nadu.
8. The Silappathikaram speaks about Cheran Senguttuvan.
9. The Cholas ruled over the Kaveri delta and Northern parts of Tamil Nadu.
10. Pattinappalai is a long poem about Kaveripoompattinam.
11. Silappadhikaram describes the trading activities at Kaveripoompattinam.
12. The Pandyas who ruled over the Southern part of Tamil Nadu are referred to in the Ashokan inscriptions.
13. The Mangulam Tamil Brahmi inscription mentions the King Nedunchezhian.
14. A part from the Vendhars, there were Velirs and numerous chieftains who occupied territories on the margins of the Muvendhar.

A map of major sangam age sites