Economy of the Sangam Age
Agriculture was the chief occupation. Rice was the common
crop. Ragi, sugarcane, cotton, pepper, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon
and a variety of fruits were the other crops. Jack fruit and pepperwere famous in the Chera country. Paddy was the chief crop in the
Chola and Pandya country.
The handicrafts of the Sangam period were popular. They
include weaving, metal works and carpentry, ship building and
making of ornaments using beads, stones and ivory. There was a
great demand for these products, as the internal and external trade
was at its peak during the Sangam period. Spinning and weaving of
cotton and silk clothes attained a high quality. The poems mention
the cotton clothes as thin as a cloud of steam or a slough of a snake.
There was a great demand in the western world for the cotton clothes
woven at Uraiyur.
Both internal and foreign trade was well organized and briskly
carried on in the Sangam Age. The Sangam literature, Greek and
Roman accounts and the archaeological evidences provide detailed
information on this subject. Merchants carried the goods on the
carts and on animal-back from place to place. Internal trade was
mostly based on the barter system.
External trade was carried between South India and the Greek
kingdoms. After the ascendancy of the Roman Empire, the Roman
trade assumed importance. The port city of Puhar became an
emporium of foreign trade, as big ships entered this port with
precious goods. Other ports of commercial activity include Tondi,
Musiri, Korkai, Arikkamedu and Marakkanam. The author of
Periplus provides the most valuable information on foreign trade.
Plenty of gold and silver coins issued by the Roman Emperors like
Augustus, Tiberius and Nero were found in all parts of Tamil Nadu.
They reveal the extent of the trade and the presence of Roman
traders in the Tamil country. The main exports of the Sangam age
were cotton fabrics, spices like pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon
and turmeric, ivory products, pearls and precious stones. Gold,
horses and sweet wine were the chief imports
.End of the Sangam Age
Towards the end of the third century A.D., the Sangam period
slowly witnessed its decline. The Kalabhras occupied the Tamil
country for about two and a half centuries. We have little information
about the Kalabhra rule. Jainism and Buddhism became prominent
during this period. The Pallavas in the northern Tamil Nadu and
Pandyas in southern Tamil Nadu drove the Kalabhras out of the
Tamil country and established their ruleChandragupta I (320 – 330 A.D.)
Agriculture was the chief occupation. Rice was the common
crop. Ragi, sugarcane, cotton, pepper, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon
and a variety of fruits were the other crops. Jack fruit and pepperwere famous in the Chera country. Paddy was the chief crop in the
Chola and Pandya country.
The handicrafts of the Sangam period were popular. They
include weaving, metal works and carpentry, ship building and
making of ornaments using beads, stones and ivory. There was a
great demand for these products, as the internal and external trade
was at its peak during the Sangam period. Spinning and weaving of
cotton and silk clothes attained a high quality. The poems mention
the cotton clothes as thin as a cloud of steam or a slough of a snake.
There was a great demand in the western world for the cotton clothes
woven at Uraiyur.
Both internal and foreign trade was well organized and briskly
carried on in the Sangam Age. The Sangam literature, Greek and
Roman accounts and the archaeological evidences provide detailed
information on this subject. Merchants carried the goods on the
carts and on animal-back from place to place. Internal trade was
mostly based on the barter system.
External trade was carried between South India and the Greek
kingdoms. After the ascendancy of the Roman Empire, the Roman
trade assumed importance. The port city of Puhar became an
emporium of foreign trade, as big ships entered this port with
precious goods. Other ports of commercial activity include Tondi,
Musiri, Korkai, Arikkamedu and Marakkanam. The author of
Periplus provides the most valuable information on foreign trade.
Plenty of gold and silver coins issued by the Roman Emperors like
Augustus, Tiberius and Nero were found in all parts of Tamil Nadu.
They reveal the extent of the trade and the presence of Roman
traders in the Tamil country. The main exports of the Sangam age
were cotton fabrics, spices like pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon
and turmeric, ivory products, pearls and precious stones. Gold,
horses and sweet wine were the chief imports
.End of the Sangam Age
Towards the end of the third century A.D., the Sangam period
slowly witnessed its decline. The Kalabhras occupied the Tamil
country for about two and a half centuries. We have little information
about the Kalabhra rule. Jainism and Buddhism became prominent
during this period. The Pallavas in the northern Tamil Nadu and
Pandyas in southern Tamil Nadu drove the Kalabhras out of the
Tamil country and established their ruleChandragupta I (320 – 330 A.D.)
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