Digital Text of SOCIAL SCIENCE Standard VIII

Submitted by RESHMA S.R Christ Nagar college of Education

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CONTENTS

1. ANCIENT TAMILAKAM 2. READING MAPS 3. ECONOMIC THOUGHT 4. TOWARDS THE GANGETIC PLAIN

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ANCIENT TAMILAKAM

The megalithic monuments and the ancient Tamil songs belong to the same period. The region from Thirupati in Andhra Pradesh to Kanyakumari.This included Kerala as well was called Tamilakam in ancient period.

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SANGAM LITERATURE

The collection of ancient Tamil songs is known as sangam literature. Sangam literature is the most ancient among the available Tamil literature. It is believed that these were compiled in the period between BCE 300 and CE 300

Auvvaiyar , a famous poet during sangam period . There were several women poets during sangam period.kapilar,paranar,Mathurainakkeeran,palaogautha manar,etc.were the major poets of the period

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The works of these poets have been compiled in different texts. They are classified accordance with the period of composition and theme. This can be understood from the given table.

Thirukkural Thiruvalluvar know as valluvar,was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher.He is best known as the author of the Thirukkural,a collection of couplets on ethics,political and economical matters,and love.

Sangam works

Category Pathupattu

Ettuthokai

Major works Mathurraikanchi Akananuru Purananiru

Pathinenkeezhkanakku Thirukkural Grammar text Tholkappiyam

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• Tolkappiyam – by Tolkappiyar,is considered the earliest of Tamil literary work,is a work on Tamil grammar. 1. Ettutogai( Eight Anthologies)-Aniguru nooru,Narrinai,Aganaooru,purananooru,kur untogai,kalittogai,paripadal and padittupathu. 2. The pattuppattu(Ten idylls)- consists of ten worksThirumurugarruppadai,porunararruppadai, Sirupanarruppadai,perumpanarruppadai, Mullaippattu,Nedunalvadai,Maduraikkaji, Kurinjippattu,pattinappalai andmalaipatukadam 3.pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works about ethics and morals . The two epics silappathikatam is written by Elango Adigal and manimegalai by sittalai sattanar. Discuss the importance of the sangam works as a source of history

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SOCIAL LIFE

The Tinais had an important role in moulding the social life of ancient Tamilakam

KURINCHI Hunting and collecting of forest resources were the means of livelihood of the people in the hilly kurinchi.

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MULLAY Rearing of cattle was the major occupation of the people of Mullai,the grassland

PALAY The maravars and the kallars inhabited the palai.since they sustainable or profitable,they also had to resort to robbing .The maravars were petty chieftains.

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MARUTAM The marutam appear to have been the region where agriculture was the main mode of subsistence.Here the ulavar and toluvar practised plough agriculture.

NEYTAL The inhabitants of the neytal tracts were involved with fishing,pearl farming and salt making.minavar,paravar,parthiyar etc

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Explain the role of physiotherapy in moulding the social life of the Tinais.

POLITICAL HISTORY • Muventars South lndia,during the sangam Age ,was ruled by three dynasties-the cheras,cholas and pandyas.The main sources of information about these kingdoms is traced from the literacy references of sangam period.

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EXCHANGE SYSTEM

Sangam literature mentions the practice of exchange of goods known as noduthal.Allalavanam(evening market) and nalangadi( morning markets) were the markets of ancient Tamilakam .The commodities for daily use in different Tinais were obtained from these markets.

Salt was an important commodity of exchange.This exchange was done by the merchant group called umanar.umanar also exchanged spices,the major export commodity in 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.

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13 exchanges were largely done during These summer.summer is the harvest season .salt and dried fish were made in summer.The spices collected by the Umanar were sold at trade centres in coastal towns,from where they were exported to foreign countries.The major commodites that the Romans took from ancient Tamilakam were the spices ; especially pepper.

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

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Summary • The sangam literature is a compilation of the ancient Tamil songs. • The Tinais had an important role in moulding the social life of ancient Tamilakam • Local and foreign trade existed in ancient Tamilakam. • The cheras, the cholas, and the pandyas were together known as the Moovendans

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