(i) Erythrean sea refers to the waters around the red sea.
(ii) It makes references to the Sangam Age, Ports of Muciri, Thondi, Korkai and Kumari as well as the Cheras and the Pandyas.

(i) Hero stones of the Post-Sangam Age and the Pallava period occur in large numbers in pastoral regions especially around the Chengam region near Thiruvannamalai district.
(ii) These hero stones have inscriptions and the images of warriors and names of heroes.

(i) The development of script marks the beginning of the historical period.
(ii) The period before the use, of written script is called prehistoric period.

The third section of Tholkappiyam describes poetic conventions that provide information on Tamil social life.

As seafaring people, Tamil traders and sailors established commercial and cultural links across the seas and merchants from foreign territories also visited the Tamil region.

(i) Tamil country had connections with countries overseas both in the east and west.
(ii) Roman ships used monsoon winds to cross the Western Sea or the Arabian Sea to connect Tamilagam with the Western world.
(iii) Spices including pepper, ivory, and precious stones were exported.
(iv) Metal including gold, silver and copper and precious stones were imported.
 

1. Agriculture was one of the main sources of subsistence.
2. Both wet and dry land farming were practiced.
3. In the riverine and tank-irrigated areas, paddy was cultivated.
4. Millets were cultivated in dry lands.

(i) The Tamil rulers were independent of Mauryan authority because Ashokan inscriptions found in present day Odisha, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are not seen in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
(ii) So we can conclude the status of Tamil rulers.

(i) Coins as a medium of exchange were introduced for the first time in the Sangam Age.
(ii) The coins of the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas, punch-marked coins, and Roman coins form another important source of evidence from the Sangam Age.
(iii) Sometimes coins were protected as a precious wealth.

1. Excavations at Arikkamedu, Azhagankulam, Uraiyur, Kanchipuram, Kaveripoompattinam, Korkai, Vasavasamudram, Keezhadi, Kodumanal in Tamil Nadu, and Pattanam in Kerala provide the evidence we have of this period.
2. Archaeological excavations at the early historic sites are the source of evidence of the activities of the Sangam Age people.

(i) The Sangam Age saw the first urbanization in Tamilagam.
(ii) Cities developed and they had brick buildings, roof tiles, ring wells and planned towns, streets, and store houses.
(iii) The towns worked as ports and artisanal centres. Arikkamedu, Kaveripoompattinam, Azhagankulam and Korkai on the east coast and Pattanam in Kerala were port centres. Kanchipuram, Uraiyur, Karur, Madurai and Kodumanal were inland trade centres.
(iv) Many goods and commodities were produced in these centres and were exported to various regions.
(v) Though few in number, large towns appeared in the Sangam Age.
(vi) Small villages however were found in many areas. Bronze vessels, beads, shell bangles, glass beads, pottery with names of people written in Tamil-Brahmi script were found at these sites.

1. Craft production and craft specialization were important aspects of urbanization.
2. In the Sangam Age there were professional groups that produced various commodities.
3. The system of production of commodities is called industry.
4. Pottery was practised in many settlements. People used pottery produced by kalam ceyks in their daily activities and so they were made in large numbers.
5. Black ware, russet-coated painted ware, black and red ware potteries were the different types of pottery used.
6. Iron manufacturing was an important artisanal activity. Iron smelting was undertaken in traditional furnaces.
7. Furnaces and raw ore have been found in many archaeological sites.
8. Sangam Age literature mentioned about the Iron manufacturing.
9. They produced Iron implements required for agriculture and warfare (sword, daggers and spears).

1. Sangam age has its roots in the Iron age.
2. In the iron age people were organised into chiefdoms.
3. From such communities of Iron Age emerged the Vendhars of the early historic period.
4. The Velirs of the Sangam Age were chieftains.
5. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka conquered Kalinga and Karnataka.
6. But Ashokan inscriptions are not seen in Tamil Nadu, Therefore we may conclude that the Tamil rulers were independent of Mauryan authority.
7. Among the political powers of the Sangam Age the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas occupied pre eminent position. They were known as Muvendhars.
8. The Muvendhars controlled the major towns and ports of the Sangam period.
9. The Cheras ruled over the region of present day Kerala and Western part of Tamil Nadu.
10. The Cholas ruled over the Kaveri delta and Northern parts of Tamil Nadu.
11. The Pandyas ruled the southern part of Tamil Nadu with Madurai as their capital.
12 Apart from the Vendhars there were Velirs and numerous chieftains.
13. Sangam poems write extensively about the generosity of the people.