Contact with Distant Lands Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 6: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

The Sangam Age

• Definition: The term "Sangam" refers to the three assemblies of poets from Tamilakam (present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala) that met in Madurai between approximately 500 BCE and 300 CE.
• Significance: The compositions of these poets are collectively known as Sangam Literature, marking the period known as the Sangam Age.
• Key Works:
  • Poems on love (Aham) and war (Puram) categorized into anthologies like the Pattupattu and the Ettutogai.
  • Contains 18 minor works with moral stories known as the Padinenkilkanakku.
  • Includes the Tolkappiyam, a work on Tamil grammar, and the Kural by ThiruvaIJuvar.
  • Later additions include the Tamil epics, Silappadikuram, and Manimekulai.
• Themes: Sangam Literature predominantly discusses battles, heroic deeds of kings, and various aspects of social, political, economic, and religious life during that era.
• Legacy: Provides insights into the Cholas, the Cheras, and the Pandyas.

The Tamilakam

During the Sangam Age, when North India was ruled by the Mauryas and the Kushanas, South India was ruled by several dynasties. These were the Cheras, the Cholas, and the Pandyas. The three ruling chiefs of these dynasties were together referred to as muvendar or 'three crowned kings' in Sangam Literature. Sangam Literature tells us that the three chiefdoms were constantly at war with one another.

The Cheras

The word Chera in Tamil means 'hill country'. According to the Chera poets, their greatest king was Senguttuvan or the 'good Chera'. The present-day Kerala and parts of western Tamil Nadu formed the Chera kingdom. Karur, also known as Vanji, was the Chera capital and a famous inland trading centre in Tamilakam. The emblem of the Cheras was the bow.

• The Cheras had good relations with the Romans and the Greeks.
• The Romans imported large quantities of pepper from the Cheras. They also imported ivory, precious stones, and silk.
• The Greeks imported rice, sugar, and cinnamon.

The Cholas

The present-day regions of Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu formed the Chola kingdom. The Cholas established their main capital at Uraiyur (near Tiruchirapalli), which was famous for its cotton textiles, and a secondary capital at Kaveripattinam, which was a major trading port. The emblem of the Chola kings was the tiger.

• The most powerful Chola king was Karikala. He built the Kallanai Dam near Trichur, across the Kaveri river. It is considered to be one of the oldest water-regulatory structures in the world which is still in use.

The Pandyas

The Pandyan kingdom comprised the present-day territories of Madurai, Tirunelveli, and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu. Madurai was their capital. The emblem of the Pandya kings was the fish.

• According to Roman and Greek texts, the Pandyas had flourishing trade relations with the Romans and the Greeks. Items of trade included ivory, spices, shells, and pearls.

The Satavahanas

• Trade routes saw further development under the Satavahana rule.
• The Satavahanas were a powerful dynasty that ruled over parts of present-day Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• One of their most important rulers was Gautamiputra Satakarni (106–130 CE).
• The capital of the Satavahanas was Prathisthan or Paithan in Maharashtra.
• Satavahana kings were interested in encouraging trade, calling themselves 'Lords of Dakshinapatha' and seeking to control the coast as well.
• They encouraged the construction of roads to improve communication throughout the northern Deccan.
• These kings used a matronymic system, incorporating the names of their mothers in their identifications. For example, Gautamiputra Satakarni was the son of Gautami, while Vasisthiputra Satakarni was the son of Vasisthi.

Invasion From the North-West

• Indo-Greeks:
  • First invaders of North India
  • Notable ruler: Milinda or Menander
  • Embraced Buddhism
  • Famous discussions with Buddhist monk Nagasena
  • Minted earliest gold coins in India
  • Had capitals in Mathura and Purushapura
• Sakas:
  • Originally nomadic tribes of Central Asia
  • Defeated the Indo-Greeks
  • Established rule in north-western India
  • Capital at Mathura
  • Ruled until the 4th century CE
• Parthians:
  • Came to India from Iran
  • Ruled a small part of North-west India in the 1st century CE
  • Prominent ruler: Gondophernes
• Kushanas:
  • Also known as Yuechis or Tocharians
  • Empire extended from Central Asia to Varanasi
  • Had capitals in Mathura and Purushapura
  • Notable ruler: Kanishka
  • Ascended the throne in 78 CE

Trade Routes Over Sea

• Traders from India and outside used several sea routes to trade.
• Ports dotted the Indian coast on the east and the west, on the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, respectively.
• Important ports on the western coast: Bhrigukachcha and Sopara.
• Important ports on the eastern coast: Arikamedu, Kaveripattinam, and Tamralipti.
• Bhrigukachcha was the most important and prosperous port.
• Much of the sea-borne trade was with the Roman empire.
• Roman emperor Augustus sent out an expedition to India.
• Roman navigator Hippalus charted a straight course across the seas using the monsoon winds, reducing sailing time between Egypt and South Asia.
• Knowledge of monsoon winds led to the expansion of trade.
• Indian traders also reached South-east Asia and Sri Lanka.
• The expansion of trade led to the establishment of Indian colonies in Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.
• Indo-Roman Trade Links: Exports from India to the Roman empire exceeded imports. Romans paid with gold coins.
• Discovery of Roman coins at various sites in the peninsula, including Arikamedu, indicates India profited from trade with the Roman empire.

The Silk Route

• Chinese silk was very popular among the Romans.
• Traders transported vast quantities of Chinese silk and other items from China to the Roman Empire.
• They used a land route cutting across Central Asia.
• This land trade route used by traders to carry Chinese products to Western Asia was known as the Silk Route.
• This route passed through mountains and deserts and was very risky and dangerous.
• Some Indian kings, who had their kingdoms adjacent to the Silk Route, began to tax the traders as they passed through the Indian kingdoms.
• In return, the Indian kings assured them full protection from robbers and bandits. 

Spread of Buddhism

• Kanishka, the Kushana king, was a follower of Buddhism. He also took an interest in the religious debates of his time; it was during his reign that the Fourth Buddhist Council was held.
• In the Fourth Buddhist Council, decisions were made regarding the teachings of the Buddha, leading to the split of Buddhism into two groups: Hinayana and Mahayana.
• The new group known as Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) emphasized the worship of the Buddha as God and belief in Bodhisattvas, while the orthodox Buddhism was called Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle).
• Missionary activities were integral to the spread of Buddhism. Buddhist monks traveled extensively in India, Sri Lanka, and Central Asia to propagate the teachings of the Buddha.
• Mahayana Buddhists actively spread their beliefs across Central, South, and Southeast Asia by sending missionaries to regions like China, Central Asia, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, and Japan.
• Faxian, a Chinese pilgrim in the early 4th century CE, journeyed to India, visiting numerous Buddhist monasteries and collecting sacred texts to bring back to China.