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Summary

Ancient India Class 07

## Last class revision (5:08 PM)

## Significance of Satavahana (5:14 PM)

- ***Society -*** Satavahana rulers claimed themself to be Brahmins and It was their duty to uphold 4 fold varna system.
- Many rulers were known by their mother's name, for example, Gautamiputra Satakarni or his som Vashishtiputra Pulumayi.
- Even though the succession of the kingdom went to sons.
- ***Economy -*** Agriculture such as rice, and cotton crops was very prominent along with mining.
- Many traders and artisans called themself Gandhikas even though the term initially meant perfume makers.
- Satavahana issued copper and silver coins.
- ***Religion and language -*** They were worshippers of Lord Siva and Vishnu.
- They started the practice of giving tax-free lands to brahmins as well as Buddhist monks.
- Prakrit was the official language written in Brahmi script.
- The use of Sanskrit was very rare.
- ***Administration -*** Kingdom was divided into districts called Ahara.
- The important official was knowns as Amatyas and Mahamatras.
- The village headmen were called Gaulmika who sometimes also headed a small military regiment.
- Satavahanas also contributed to architecture such as rock-cut architecture, monasteries, chaitya, and viharas in the Deccan region.
- The empire declined by the early 3rd century, and many kingdoms emerged from it, the most important being Vakataka rulers.
- A school of sculpture known as the Amaravati school of art emerged during the Satavahana period.
- Satavahanas had 2 capitals Amaravati and Pratishthana.

## Megalithic age (1200-400 BC) (5:41 PM)

- The neolithic phase of south India was succeeded by the megalithic phase.
- They are not known from their settlement, but from the burial practices which they adopted.
- The graves are called megaliths because they were encircled by big stone pieces and in most cases located outside the settlement area.
- The 1st use of iron objects in south India is from this period.
- Black and Redware pottery has been found buried in these megaliths.
- The number of agricultural tools is less compared to tools for hunting and fighting.
- This does signify that people did not practice advanced agriculture.
- Evidence of Rice, Ragi, and cultivation has been found.
- Megaliths are mainly concentrated in eastern Andrapradesh and Tamil Nadu, for example, Paiyampalli and Kodumanal.
- The Cholas, Cheras, and Pandya mentioned in Ashokan inscriptions may have belonged to the last phase of the megalithic age.

## Sangam age (300BC-300AD) (5:54 PM)

- ***Sangam literature:***
- According to Tamil legends, there were 3 assemblies of poets patronized by the Pandya king of Madurai they were popularly called Muchchangam/Sangam.
- The work of 1st Sangam has not survived.
- The work of the Second Sangam has also not survived except for Tolkappiyam a book on Tamil grammar.
- The work of 3rds Sangam and post-Sangam literature have survived and are the major sources of the history of south India in ancient times.
- Sangam literature can be divided into 2 groups.
- The narrative text is called  Melkanakku which are work of heroic poetry and the didactic text Kilkanakku.
- Two of the greatest work of Tamil literature Silappadikaram and Manimekalai are post-Sangam works and examples of Didactic text.
- ***Silappadikaram:***
- Silappadikaram deals with the love story of rich merchant Kovalan, a courtesan Madhavi and Kovalan's wife Kanagi.
- It is written by Ilango Adigal.
- ***Manimekalai:***
- It is an Anti-love story of the daughter of Madhavi and Kavalan wants to join the Buddhist sangha as a nun.
- It was written by Chithalia Chathanar.
- ***Other sources of Sangam age:***
- Periplus of Erythrean sea.
- Natural history by Pliny.
- Numismatics.
- Epigraphy.

## Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas (6:21 PM)

- They are collectively knowns as Muvender.
- ***Cholas:***
- Their capital was Uraiyur.
- Their premium port was Puhar (Kaveripattnam).
- Their royal emblem was a tiger.
- One of the early kings was Elara.
- He is mentioned to have conquered Sri-lanka.
- The greatest Chola king from this age is considered to be Karaikal.
- ***Karaikal:***
- He founded Puhar which became a great centre of trade and commerce.
- He constructed an embankment of about 150 km along the river Kaveri.
- He defeated an alliance of Pandya and Cheras in the battle of Venni.
- In Sangam literature, it is mentioned, that 11 rulers lost their drums in this battle.
- ***Cheras:***
- Chera kingdom mainly includes modern Kerala.
- Their capital was Vanji.
- Their port was Muchiri (Muziris).
- Their royal emblem was a bow.
- The earliest known Chera king is Udiyanjeral.
- One of the most prominent kings was Nendunjeral Adan.
- He took the title of Adhiraja.
- His son Senguttuvan is considered a great Chera king from ancient times.
- Sangam's text describes his military victory against the neighbouring kingdom.
- It is also said that he invaded the north and crossed the river Ganga.
- ***Pandyas:***
- Pandyan territory included the southernmost region.
- Their capital was Madhuri
- Their premium port was Korkai.
- Their royal emblem was the fish.
- Pandyas are 1st mentioned by Megasthenes, he says that the kingdom was ruled by women.
- One of the characters of Silappadikam is Nendunjeliyan-I, as per the text he died of remorse because of the death of Kovalan who was innocent.
- Nendunjeliyan-II is considered an important ruler who defeated the Cholas and Cheras.
- In some inscriptions, it is mentioned, that his subordinates patronaged Jainism.

## The economy in Sangam age (7:04 PM)

- A 5 fold division is mentioned in Tolkapiyam, this division was called Tinai and included:
- Kurinji-land of hilly tracks used for hunting and gathering.
- Mullai- pastoral land used for animal husbandry.
- Palai-infertile land.
- Marudam- agricultural.
- Neital- used for fishing and salt making.
- Agriculture was the main occupation.
- The cultivation of rice, cotton, sugarcane, pepper, turmeric, cardamom, and cinnamon was prevalent.
- Tanks and dams were used for irrigation as the region is devoid of perennial rivers.
- Trade both inland and foreign was well established.
- Many trade-related terms such as Vanikkam, Chattan, and Nigama are mentioned.
- Salt merchants were called Ummnan.
- The mobile merchants were called Chattu.
- The market palaces were called Avanam
- A flourishing trade with Romans was the most important feature of the Sangam economy.
- There was a surplus trade with main export items such as species, perfumes, fine textiles, precious stones, and black pepper(called Yavan Priya).
- The main items that were imported were lead, corals, and slave girls.
- Around 1 century AD, the discovery of monsoon wind by the greek sailor Hippatus further intensified the trade.
- Apart from land revenue and custom duty, tributes paid by the local chief were the major sources of income for the state.
- A major tribute was a war booty called Arai.

## Society and religion (7:19 PM)

- The concept of the varna system was known in the Sangam age, however, it was not practised similarly as it was in north India.
- Social stratification was based on Kuti.
- There was no restriction on interdining in Kuti groups.
- The society was very much unequal, the ruling class was called Arasar and the rich peasants were called Vellalas.
- The lowest class who did the manual work on the farm was called Kadaisiyar.
- The class of warriors was an important class of society.
- Captains of the army were given the title of Enadi.
- Memorial stones were enacted in the honor of those who died fighting, they were called Nadukul or Virukkal.
- Most of the Sangam poets were male however few of them were women.
- Poets belonged to all classes and kings and poets were dependent on each other.
- There is mention of Sati being practised in Tamil society.
- It was called Tippayadal however it was not obligatory.
- There were many local deities for example the worship of the god Murugan (also called Subramaniya).
- In Sangam, brahmins appeared in Tamil land, and many brahmins became great poets and were rewarded by the kings.
- Kings also patronaged Buddhism and Jainism.

## Gupta empire (7:50 PM)

- Sources:
- Purans.
- Work of Kalidas.

## The topic for the next class: the Gupta empire.