In the 4th century B.C. the cultural and economic contact between the north and Deep South known as ‘Tamilkam’ or ‘Tamizhakam’ became extremely important.

The route to south called ‘Dakshinapath’ was valued greatly by people of north because south supplied golds, pearls, and various precious stones. The Asokan inscription of 2nd and 13th Rock Edicts mentions the Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas, Satyaputuras, and Tamrapani or people of Sri Lanka. Of theser only the Stayaputras are not clearly identified.

Asoka’s title ‘dear to god’ was adopted by Tamil chiefs.

Sangam literature

Samgam was a college or assembly of Tamil poets held probably under royal patronage of Pandyan kings in Madurai. Tradition persists thatit lasted for 9990 years attended by 8,598 poets and 197 Pandyan kings.

The first Sangam was attended by gods and legendary sages and its entire works have perished.

Of the second sangam, there survives only the work of the early Tamil Grammar “Tolkappiyam” written by Tolkapiyyar. The Sangam literature can roughly be divided into two groups narrative and didactic.

The narrative text are called Melkannaku or eighteen major works consisting of eight anthologies (Ethutogai) and ten idylls (Pattupattu). The didactic works are called Kilkannaku or eighteen minr work consisting of Tirukural and Naladiyar.

The epics

• Silappadikaram (Jewelled Anklet)
• Written by Ilango Adigal, it deal with her story of Kovalam and Madhavi of Kaveripahinam.
• Manimekalai   - Written by Sattnar, deal with adventure of daughter born of Kovalan and Madhavi.
• Sivaga Sindamani        - Written by Tiruttakkardevas.