ancient Tamil country (Sangam era: 600 BCE – 300 CE)
The main economic activities were agriculture, weaving, pearl fishery, manufacturing and construction. Rice was the most important crop; it was the staple cereal, grown widely in paddy fields, and served as a medium of exchange for inland trade. Pepper, millets, pulses and sugarcane were other commonly grown crops. Madurai and Urayur were important centres for the textile industry; Korkai was the center of the pearl trade. Industrial activity flourished.