The Sangam literature, though not extensively informative about the connected political history of South India, serves as an invaluable window into the socio-economic milieu of its era. Composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE, these ancient Tamil texts vividly depict the everyday life, customs, and economic activities prevalent during that period. While political events may have been relegated to the periphery, the Sangam literature illuminates the intricacies of society, offering insights into the lives of people from various strata. Through its rich tapestry of poems and narratives, it portrays the bustling trade routes, agrarian practices, social hierarchies, familial structures, and cultural ethos of ancient Tamil society. The verses provide glimpses into the vibrant marketplace dynamics, maritime trade ventures, agricultural practices, and the patronage of arts and literature by the ruling elites. Additionally, they shed light on social relationships, gender roles, religious practices, and the ethos of love and war. Thus, despite its limitations in documenting political history, the Sangam literature emerges as a priceless repository of socio-economic information, enabling scholars to reconstruct and understand the fabric of ancient South Indian society with remarkable vividness.
Tag: Literature.
Decoding the Question:
- In Introduction, try to start with a brief introduction on the Sangam age.
- In Body, show how Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable vividness.
- Conclude by mentioning the significance of the Sangam literature.
Answer:
Sangam Literature is basically Tamil literature and its composed during 1-3rd AD century specifically in Tamil Nadu during the great periodic confluence of Sangams .The term Sangam refers to an assembly or “meeting together” of Tamil poets. The Sangam literature portrays the economic life and social life of South India of that age.
Economic Life of South India:
- The Sangam literature very comprehensively tells us about trade and commerce of that time.
- The Indo-Roman trade and import of slaves from India to Rome and exports of gold, wine are well pronounced.
- Muchiri port, Arikamedu port are very famous ports of that time.
- The growth of trade led to the rise of essential towns and craft centers in the Tamil region.
- Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, is characterized in the Sangam poems as a large city.
- It was an important center of delicate textile and ivory working. Korkai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, was a critical Pandya port. It was famous for its pearls.
- The decline of the economy began in the 3rd century then continuously started diminishing of the whole empire.
Social Life of South India:
- The whole Tamilaham in this era was divided into five tinais or eco-zones, i.e., zones based on their economic resources. These were: Kurinji (hilly region); Palai (arid zone); Mullai (pastoral tracts); Marudam (wetlands); and Neital (seacoast). These zones were not demarcated and were scattered all around the region.
- Though the concept of Varna was known, social classes in the Sangam period were not pronounced by higher or lower rankings as in North India.
- Based on their occupation, people were known, such as artisans, salt merchants, textile merchants, etc.
- The rich lived in well-decorated brick houses and wore costly clothes, whereas the poor lived in mud huts and had scanty attire to wear.
- Women in the Sangam period appear to have been educated. Women are also depicted as engaged in various economic activities such as paddy plantation, cattle rearing, basket-making, spinning, etc.
Fails to Portray Political life of South India:
- Though there were three Sangams, only the last one consists of the elements related to their polity.
- War heroes occupied a unique position in society, and memorial stones called nadukal or virukkal were raised in honour.
- Most political events were exaggerated. Names of the territories and dynasties mentioned were imaginary and had no archaeological evidence supporting them.
Even though the Sangam literature fails to provide any factual information regarding the political history of South India, it portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable vividness.
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