The Sangam Age — Part 1: Kingdoms, Sources and Women: visual lesson, ICSE Class 9 History & Civics (H.C.G. Paper 1)

Lesson

The Sangam Age: kingdoms, sources and women

Part 1 — who ruled, how we know about the age, and how women appear in the sources.

In this lesson you will

Name the three ruling families and describe the tradition of the Sangams as a tradition
Explain what Sangam literature and the Tirukkural tell us, without quoting any poem
Explain what megalithic burials and their grave goods suggest about early South Indian society
Describe the position of women in Sangam society, including women poets

Part 1 at a glance

Diagram

The Sangam Age and the debated date of the Tirukkural (approximate).

The Sangam Age is placed about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE; books vary.

Diagram

Table of the three ruling families: the Cheras on the west coast with the port of Muziris and pepper, the Cholas in the Kaveri region with the port of Puhar and fertile farmland, and the Pandyas in the Madurai area with the port of Korkai, pearls and the tradition of the Sangams
Ruling family	Region and port	Linked with
Cheras	West coast; port of Muziris	Pepper and spices
Cholas	Kaveri region; port of Puhar	Fertile farmland
Pandyas	Madurai area; port of Korkai	Pearls; the Sangams (tradition)