Ancient History of India : OLD NCERT Short Notes or Revision : CHAPTER-22 : The Dawn of History in the Deep South(Arora IAS) OLD NCERT Notes (Ancient India)

CHAPTER-22 : The Dawn of History in the Deep South

Ancient History of India
OLD NCERT
Short Notes or Revision Notes 

The Deccan Before the Satavahanas

Megalithic Builders (until 2nd century BC):

• Upland dwellers known for their stone burial structures (megaliths).
• Graves contained skeletons, pottery, and iron objects.
• Concentrated in eastern Andhra and Tamil Nadu.
• Culture began around 1000 BC.

Rise of Southern Kingdoms (from 4th century BC)

• Increased cultural and economic contact between north and south India (Tamizhakam).
• South exported gold, pearls, and precious stones via Dakshinapatha trade route.
• Pandya kingdom known to Megasthenes in Pataliputra.
• Early Sangam texts familiar with north Indian places (Ganges, Son rivers, Pataliputra).
• Trade with Roman Empire helped establish Chola, Chera, and Pandya kingdoms.

Three South Indian Kingdoms

1. The Pandyas:

• First mentioned by Megasthenes (known for pearls).
• Territory: Southernmost tip of India (modern Tirunelveli, Ramnad, Madurai districts, Tamil Nadu).
• Capital: Madurai.

2. The Cholas (Cholamandalam):

• Northeast of Pandyas, between Pennar and Velar rivers.
• Famous king: Karikala (2nd century AD)
  • Founded Puhar (capital)
  • Built 160km Kaveri river embankment with war captives.
• Main center: Uraiyur (cotton trade).

3. The Cheras (Kerala):

• West and north of Pandyas (coastal Kerala and some Tamil Nadu).
• Romans had regiments and possibly a temple in Muziris (Cranganore).
• History marked by conflicts with Cholas and Pandyas.
• Famous king: Senguttuvan.

Trade:

• Tamils traded with Greeks/Egyptians/Arabs to the west and Southeast Asia to the east.

Social Structure in the Tamil Kingdoms

Royal Income:

• Spoils of war added to royal coffers.

Social Classes:

• Brahmins: Newcomers in the Sangam Age.
• Ruling Class (Arasar):
  • Intermarried with Vellalas (cultivators).
  • Rich Vellalas employed laborers.
• Kadaisiyar (Lowest Class):
  • Agricultural laborers, similar to slaves.
• Pariyars:
  • Agricultural laborers who worked with animal skins.

Comparison with North India:

• Tamil Land:
  • Vellalar (landowners)
  • Uzhavar (ploughmen)
  • Kadaisiyar/Adimai (landless laborers/slaves)
• North India:
  • Grama Bhojaka (village headman, often largest landowner)
  • Grihapatis (independent farmers, smaller landowners)
  • Dasakarmakaras (landless laborers)

Economic Roles:

• Shrenis: Associations of artisans and merchants.
  • Provided training, raw materials, and product distribution (artisans).
  • Organized trade and acted as banks (merchants).

Sangam Literature and Brahmanical Influence

Sangam: Assembly of Tamil Poets

• Patronage: Possibly by Pandya kings (according to an 8th-century commentary).
• Literature: Divided into narrative and didactic works.
  • Narrative (Melkannakku): 18 major works (8 anthologies, 10 idylls).
  • Didactic (Kilkanakku): 18 minor works.

Social Life in Sangam Texts

• War booty as a source of income.
• Hero stones (virarkal) linked to megalithic burial practices.

Brahmanical Influence

• Authorship: Many texts by Brahmin scholars of Prakrit or Sanskrit.
• Tolkkappium: Early Tamil grammar and poetics text.
• Tirukkural: Philosophy and wise maxims.
• Silappadikaram and Manimekalai (6th century epics):
  • Love story and adventures influenced by Brahminical values.
• Ashokan inscriptions (3rd century BC) and later Brahmi inscriptions (2nd-1st century BC) show interaction with North Indian languages and possibly Jain/Buddhist missionaries.