UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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History of India: ancient and medieval / Post-Mauryan India and the Sangam age

Sangam age: Tamilakam and its kingdoms

The three crowned kings: Cheras (Senguttuvan, Udiyanjeral), Cholas (Karikala), Pandyas (Nedunjeliyan)
Society in Sangam poems: tinai landscapes, varna known to poets, warrior ethic, magic and material life
Royal customs: vattakirutal (defeated king starves to death), virakkal hero stones, veli and puram
Ports Korkai, Puhar (Poompuhar), Muchiri (Muziris), Arikamedu; Roman gold and pepper trade; yavanas
End of the Sangam age and the Kalabhra interregnum before Pallavas and Pandyas

Where to study

Lesson 5 Evolution of Society in South India, pp. 82-94 (printed 78-90)
Lesson 5 Evolution of Society in South India, 5.3 The Sangam Age; 5.4 Social and Political Formations (Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas), pp. 85-88 (printed 81-84)
Lesson 5 Evolution of Society in South India, 5.6 Society and Economy; 5.7 Ideology and Religion, pp. 89-91 (printed 85-87)
Lesson 5 Evolution of Society in South India, Classical Tamil Literature, pp. 83-84 (printed 79-80)
Lesson 5 Evolution of Society in South India, 5.5 Tamil Polity (kingship and warfare), pp. 88-89 (printed 84-85)
Lesson 5 Evolution of Society in South India, 5.6 Society and Economy (ports and Roman trade), pp. 89-90 (printed 85-86)
Lesson 5 Evolution of Society in South India, 5.8 Age of Kalabhras, pp. 91-92 (printed 87-88)

Theme 2 Kings, Farmers and Towns, pp. 1-25 (printed 28-52)
Theme 2 Kings, Farmers and Towns, 4. New Notions of Kingship: Chiefs and chiefdoms (Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas), pp. 8-9 (printed 35-36)
Theme 2 Kings, Farmers and Towns, 6. Towns and Trade (The Malabar coast), p. 17 (printed 44)

ch. 8 Vital Villages, Thriving Towns, A closer look: Arikamedu, pp. 9-10 (printed 87-88)