Page 67 - SST Class 06

Contacts with
q Sangam literature as a source of prevailing times
q India and South-East Asia
q India and West
Introduction
Since ancient time India has contacts with other
parts of the world. The Indians had trade relations
with other countries as Egypt, Iran, Arabia, China
etc. When these contacts occurred the traders
brought with them their own civilisations. The most
important feature has been that India has adopted
all civilisations. It has gained many experiences with
their customs, art and languages and influenced
them by its own culture.
SANGAM LITERATURE
By the word ‘Sangam’ is meant ‘conference’ or
‘assembly’. It is believed that three Sangams of the
Tamil poets were held in which about 8,598 poets
took part. There is no definite information about
the place and time of these Sangams. Of the three
Sangams, the poems of the two have been lost.
The number of remaining poems is put at 2,000.
From the study of these poems, historians have
concluded that the three Sangams were held
sometime between third century AD and sixth
century AD. Some historians are of the view that
some poems were composed in the beginning of
the millennium, yet they were compiled during
the Sangam age. The Sangam literature is an
important source to know about the prevailing
times.
The Sangam literature also throws light on the
relations with distant lands, especially the
establishment of Indian colonies in South-East Asia
by Indian traders. It also mentions trade relations
with Greeks and Romans.
Distant Lands 10
q Relations with distant lands
q India and North-West
It is evident from the Sangam literature that the
Tamil language had been developed fully in that
period.
Info Bits
Info Bits
It mentions about the three dynasties in the
Deccan —Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras. It also
mentions that these three dynasties fought among
themselves. The heroic deeds of these three
dynasties have been mentioned in a long poem
named Pattapattu (or Ten Long Poems). It also
depicts the economic, political, religious and social
life of common people in the southern India from
first century AD to sixth century AD.
RELATIONS WITH DISTANT LANDS
India has historically maintained trade relations
with a number of countries. The relations with
many countries were quite deep which influenced
the course of history too.
India and South-East Asia
You have read that Ashoka sent his son Mahendra
and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka for the
spread of Buddhism. Indian traders traded with Sri
Lanka as well as with many other countries in
South-East Asia. Not only this, many Indian traders
settled in these countries so that they could enjoy
benefits there. Some of them became quite
influential and married women from the nobility .
In the beginning, Indian traders used to buy spices
from these countries and sell them to the western
countries on a huge profit. They also started to
Contacts with Distant Lands
67