Among the political powers of the Sangam Age, the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas occupied pre-eminent positions. They were known as Muvendhar (the three kings). The muvendhar controlled the major towns and ports of the Sangam period.

Ptolemy's Geography is a Gazetteer and atlas of Roman times providing geographical details of the Roman Empire in the Second Century CE.

(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 Cheng am 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.

(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 soures 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) Archaeological excavation refers to systematically digging a site to recover material evidence for exploring and interpreting societies of the past.
(ii) Archaeological excavations at the early historic sites are the source of evidence of the activities of the Sangam Age people.
(iii) Excavations at Arikkamedu, Azhagankulam, Uraiyur, Kanchipuram, Kaveripoom pattinam, Korkai, Vasavasamudram, Keezhadi, Kodumanal in Tamil Nadu, and. Pattanam in Kerala provide the evidence we have of this period.
(iv) Arikkamedu, near Puducherry, is a Sangam Age port, excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). British archaeologist, Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler, French Archaeologist, J.M. Casal, and Indian archaeologists, A. Ghosh and Krishna Deva, excavated this site. They found evidence of a planned town, warehouse, streets, tanks and ring wells.

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 sourthdrn 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.