Social Formation in Tamil Eco-zones

Society and Economy

• The Vendar’s (chiefs who attained higher status) battles throughout the Sangam Age were focused on expanding their territorial base by annexing the enemy’s territory. Endemic conflict, it is assumed, established the circumstances for societal inequality. War captives are mentioned as serving in several cult centers. There are also some references to slavery. Women were actively engaged in economic activity, and there were many female poets during the Sangam Age.
• There is evidence of craft production such as bronze vessels, beads and gold works, textiles, shell bangles and ornaments, glass, iron smithy, pottery making. Craft production was common in the major urban centres such as Arikamedu, Uraiyur, Kanchipuram, Kaviripattinam, Madurai, Korkai, and Pattanam in Kerala.
• 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 pepper were famous in the Chera country. Paddy was the chief crop in the Chola and Pandya country.
• In trade, barter system was much in vogue, though coins were also in use. Roman coins circulated as bullion. Long distance trade existed and the connections with the Roman empire and southeast Asia are in evidence at many archaeological sites. The southern part of India, because of its easy access to the coast and location in the maritime trade route connecting the East and the West, played an important role in the overseas contacts. Roman gold and silver coins have been found in many hoards in the Coimbatore region and in many other places in south India.