Tamilagam
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Tamilakam during Sangam period
Tamilakam (Tamil: தமிழகம், romanized: Tamiḻakam) also known as ancient Tamil country as was the geographical region inhabited by the ancient Tamil people, covering the southernmost region of the Indian subcontinent. Tamilakam covered today's Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.[1] Traditional accounts and the Tolkāppiyam referred to these territories as a single cultural area, where Tamil was the natural language[note 1] and permeated the culture of all its inhabitants.[note 2] The ancient Tamil country was divided into kingdoms. The best known among them were the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyans and Pallavas. During the Sangam period, Tamil culture began to spread outside Tamilakam.[4] Ancient Tamil settlements were also established in Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan Tamils) and the Maldives (Giravarus)
Kingdoms
From around 600 BCE to 300 CE,[14] Tamiḻakam was ruled by the three Tamil dynasties:
the Chola dynasty, the Pandyan dynasty and the Chera dynasty.
There were also a few independent chieftains, the Velirs (Satyaputra).
(The earliest datable references to the Tamil kingdoms are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE during the time of the Maurya Empire.)
The Chola dynasty ruled from before the Sangam period (~3rd century BCE) until the 13th century in central Tamil Nadu. The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of the Kaveri.
The Pandyan dynasty ruled parts of South India until the late 17th century. The heartland of the Pandyas was the fertile valley of the Vaigai River. They initially ruled their country from Korkai, a seaport on the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved to Madurai.
The Chera dynasty ruled from before the Sangam period (~3rd century) until the 12th century over an area corresponding to modern-day western Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The Vealirs (Vēḷir) were minor dynastic kings and aristocratic chieftains in Tamiḻakam in the early historic period of South India
Tamilakam was also divided into 13 socio-geographical regions called Nadu or "country", each of which had their own dialect of Tamil.[20]
Aruva Vadathalai Nadu
Kakkanadu kuda Nadu
Malai Nadu puzhi Nadu
Erumai Nadu. Panri Nadu
Punal Nadu v Sida Nadu
Thenpandi Nadu. Tondai Nadu
Tulu Nadu venadu kuttanadu
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