Ancient Tamilakam

 *Ancient Tamilakam*

 

1. What were nannangadies?

# The practice of burying the remains of the deceased by placing them it in a big urn prevailed in 

ancient Tamilakam. Such urns were known as urn burials (nannangadi).

2. List out the megalithic monuments

# Stone circle, dolmen, cist, rock chamber, thoppikkallu (tomb stone), kudakkallu (umbrella stone),

sarcophagus, menhir, etc.

3. What period is known as the megalithic period?

#  The period when the megalithic monuments were constructed is known as the Megalithic period.

4. List out the major sources of information on the history of ancient Tamilakam.

* The megalithic monuments

*Ancient Tamil songs

*coins

*Travelogues

* Tamil inscriptions

5. List out the major megalithic sites of South India.

# Kodumanal, Alagarai, Thirukambaliyoor, Pazhani, Adichanellur, Cheramanangad, Marayoor, and 

Umichipoyil.

6. Which were the regions included in the ancient Tamilakam?

# The region ranging from Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to Kanyakumari. This included Kerala as well 

was called Tamilakam in ancient period.

7. What is the difference between Akampattukal and Purampattukal?

*  The ancient Tamil songs are classified into Akampattukal and Purampattukal.

* The theme of Akampattukal is mainly personal and family affairs.

*  The Purampattukal treat external affairs like war and trade.

 8. What was Vetchi?

➢  In order to increase the 'cattle wealth', the practice of seizing

cattle prevailed. This practice was known as vetchi.

9 .Write short note about the markets of ancient Tamilakam.

➢  The practice of exchange of goods is known as *noduthal*.

➢ *Allalavanam*  (evening market) and *nalangadi*  (morning 

market) were the markets of ancient Tamilakam. 

➢  The commodities for daily use in different Tinais were 

obtained from these markets.

10.

 What was the role of the Umanar in the trade of ancient

Tamilakam?

➢  They collected dried fish and salt from the coastal area and 

exchanged it for spices like pepper and forest products of 

other Tinais.

➢  The spices collected by the Umanar were sold at trade centres

in coastal towns, from where they were exported to foreign 

countries.

11. Who were Moovendans?

➢ The Cheras, the Cholas, and the Pandyas were together

known as the *Moovendans*.

12. Write the *capitals* of Moovendans.

➢ The capitals of the Cheras, the Pandyas, and the Cholas were 

Muchiri, Madurai, and Uraiyur respectively.

13. What were the features of the trade relations in ancient

Tamilakam?

➢  There was inland and maritime trade in ancient

Tamilakam.

➢ Trade was controlled by three power centres namely the 

Cheras, the Pandyas, and the Cholas. 

➢ The spices collected by the Umanar were sold at trade centres

in coastal towns, from where they were exported to foreign 

countries.

14. Which were the major port cities of the ancient Tamilakam?

➢ Muchiri, Thondi, Vakai, Mantai, Kaveripattanam.