History of Tamil Nadu facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The history of Tamil Nadu began a very long time ago, in the early Stone Age. This area, now a state in southern India, has always been home to people.

Ancient Tamil Culture

The Tamil people have one of the oldest cultures in the world. They have learned from and shared ideas with many other cultures.

Three main Tamil kingdoms were very old: the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas. They ruled Tamil Nadu with their own special culture and language. They also helped create Sangam Literature, which is some of the oldest writing in the world.

These kingdoms traded a lot with the Roman and Greek empires. The three kingdoms often fought each other to control the land.

Around the 3rd century, a group called the Kalabhras took over. They pushed out the three main kingdoms. Later, the Pandyas and Pallavas defeated the Kalabhras and brought back the old kingdoms.

The Cholas became very powerful in the 9th century. They defeated the Pallavas and Pandyas and took control of all of southern India. At their strongest, the Chola empire stretched from Bengal in the northeast to Sri Lanka in the south. The Chola navy was very strong and controlled the Sri Vijaya kingdom in Southeast Asia.

Later, Muslim armies from the northwest changed India's history. As the three ancient kingdoms became weaker in the 14th century, Tamil Nadu became part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Under this empire, governors called Nayaks (who spoke Telugu) ruled the Tamil land.

After a short time with the Marathas, European trading companies arrived in the 17th century. They slowly gained control over the local rulers. The Madras Presidency, which included most of southern India (like modern Tamil Nadu), was formed in the 18th century. It was ruled by the British East India Company.

After India became independent in 1947, the state of Tamil Nadu was created. This happened because people wanted states based on the languages they spoke.

Early History of Tamil Nadu

Even though we don't have much proof from before 600 BCE, the history of the Tamil people likely started even earlier. Old stories from after 500 BCE talk about how ancient the Tamil people are. One story says the Tamil country once stretched far south, with 49 old regions, but a great flood destroyed it. These stories also claim that Tamil literature has been active for tens of thousands of years through three "Sangams" (gatherings of poets). However, archaeologists haven't found direct evidence to support these legends.

Stone Age Life

The Stone Age in Tamil Nadu lasted from about 50,000 BCE to 3000 BCE. During the early Stone Age, people lived near rivers where there were not too many trees or in grassy areas. There were very few people. Only two places in South India show signs of this early Stone Age culture. One is in the Attirampakkam valley, near Chennai.

Scientists have found animal fossils and old stone tools in northern Tamil Nadu from about 300,000 BCE. Early humans, called Homo erectus, lived in this "old stone age" for a long time. They used simple tools like hand axes and choppers. They found their food by hunting and gathering, not by growing it.

Modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens), who appeared about 50,000 years ago, were more advanced. They could make thinner, sharper tools from different kinds of stones. About 10,000 years ago, people started making even smaller tools called Microliths. These were made from materials like jasper, agate, and quartz. In 1949, researchers found such small tools in the Tirunelveli district.

The Neolithic period began in Tamil Nadu around 2500 BCE. During this time, humans made smoother, polished stone tools. Neolithic people usually lived in small, settled villages on hills or at the bottom of hills. They sometimes moved to find grazing land for their animals. They buried their dead in pots or pits. They also started using copper for some tools or weapons.

Later, people began using iron for tools and weapons. The Iron Age in southern India is known for large stone burial sites called Megalithic sites. Hundreds of these have been found.

Early Kingdoms (500 BCE – 300 CE)

Ancient Tamil Nadu had three main kingdoms led by kings called Ventar. There were also many smaller areas led by chiefs called Vel or Velir. In the 3rd century BCE, the Deccan region was part of the Mauryan kingdom. From the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE, the Satavahana dynasty ruled the same area. However, the Tamil region remained independent from these northern empires.

The names of the three Tamil kingdoms – Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras – are mentioned in the Pillars of Ashoka (written between 273–232 BCE). These writings show that while these kingdoms were not under Ashoka's direct rule, they were friendly with him.

Karikala Chola was the most famous early Chola king. Many poems in the Sangam literature mention him.

The Pandyas first ruled from Korkai, a seaport at the southern tip of India. Later, they moved their capital to Madurai. The Pandyas are also mentioned in Sangam Literature and by Greek and Roman writers. The early Pandyas disappeared around the end of the 3rd century CE when the Kalabhras invaded.

The Cheras ruled the area that is now Kerala, along the western coast of southern India. Being close to the sea helped them trade with Africa. Both local and international trade were very active and well-organized.

The Kalabhra Period (300 – 600 CE)

After the Sangam era ended, from about 300 to 600 CE, we have very little information about Tamil Nadu. Around 300 CE, the Kalabhras appeared and caused a lot of trouble. Later writings describe them as "evil rulers" who took over from the established Tamil kings. They didn't leave many buildings or artifacts. We only know about them from scattered mentions in Buddhist and Jain writings.

During this time, Jainism and Buddhism became very important in society. This led to many new ethical poems being written. Writing also became very common, and the vatteluttu script, which came from Tamil-Brahmi, became a well-developed way to write Tamil.

Age of Empires (600 - 1300)

The medieval period in Tamil Nadu saw many kingdoms rise and fall. Some of these grew into large empires, influencing both India and other countries.

Hindu religions like Saivism and Vaishnavism became more popular. New temples were built, and Dravidian architecture was supported by the empires. This replaced the importance of Jainism and Buddhism from earlier times. Some of the money from villages was given to temples, which then loaned some of it back to communities.

The modern Tamil script replaced the vatteluttu script across Tamil Nadu. Both religious and non-religious writings thrived during this period.

The Pallavas

In the 7th century, the Pallavas became powerful under Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. Before the 2nd century, the Pallavas were not a major political force. After the Satavahanas fell, the Pallavas gained control over parts of Andhra and Tamil Nadu. The Pallavas were strongest during the reigns of Narasimhavarman I and Nandivarman II.

During the 6th and 7th centuries, the Chalukyas rose to power in the western Deccan. The Pallavas had a harder time because they had to fight on two sides: against the Pandyas and the Chalukyas.

The Pandyas

Pandya Kadungon (560 - 590) is known for defeating the Kalabhras in the south. Pandya Cendan expanded their rule into the Chera country. His son, Arikesari Parantaka Maravarman (c. 650 - 700), had a long and successful rule. He fought many battles and made the Pandya kingdom stronger.

After some decades of growth, the Pandya kingdom became large enough to be a serious threat to the Pallavas. The Pandya power continued to grow under Srimara, taking more Pallava lands.

The Cholas

Around 850, Vijayalaya took advantage of a fight between the Pandyas and Pallavas. He captured Thanjavur and started the powerful line of medieval Chola kings. Vijayalaya brought the Chola dynasty back to life. His son, Aditya I, helped them become truly independent. In 903, he invaded the Pallava kingdom and killed the Pallava king, Aparajita, ending their rule.

The Chola kingdom under Parantaka I grew to include the entire Pandya country. However, near the end of his rule, he faced defeats from the Rashtrakutas, who had expanded into the Chola kingdom. The Cholas then went through a difficult period for some years due to weak kings and disagreements over who should rule.

European Rule (1650 - 1850)

European settlements started appearing in Tamil Nadu during the time of the Vijayanagara Empire. In 1605, the Dutch set up trading posts on the Coromandel Coast near Gingee and in Pulicat. The British East India Company built a warehouse at Armagaon in 1626, about 35 miles north of Pulicat.

British and French Conflicts

The British and French often fought each other. In 1765, the Emperor of Delhi issued a firman (official order) that recognized the British lands in southern India.

British Government Takes Control

The Company was becoming very bold and ambitious in taking over states that resisted them. However, it became clear that the Company couldn't manage such a huge area. In 1784, Pitt's India Act made the Company answerable to the British Government.

The next few decades saw fast growth and expansion of British-controlled lands. This included the Anglo-Mysore Wars (1766-1799), the Anglo-Maratha Wars (1772), and the Polygar Wars (1800-1805). Dheeran Chinnamalai, a Tamil king, won three Polygar wars against the British. But in the end, he and his two brothers were hanged. After his death, the British East India Company took full control of Tamil Nadu.

End of Company Rule

In 1857, unhappiness in the Company's territories led to the Sepoy War. This rebellion had a big impact on British rule in India, but Tamil Nadu was mostly not affected by it.

British Rule (1850 – 1947)

In 1858, the British Crown took direct control of India.

A severe famine hit the Madras Presidency in 1876-1877. This was caused by a lack of summer monsoon rains and problems with the Ryotwari system of land tax. The government then set aside money for famine insurance. They also started public works like building canals and improving roads and railways to reduce the effects of future famines.

Fight for Independence

The desire for independence grew stronger across India, and this feeling also spread in Tamil Nadu. Many people volunteered to fight against British rule in the struggle for Independence. One notable person was Tiruppur Kumaran, born in 1904. He died during a protest march against the British.

In 1916, Dr. T.M. Nair and Rao Bahadur Thygaraya Chetty released the Non-Brahmin Manifesto. This was the beginning of the Dravidian movements, which focused on the rights of non-Brahmin people in the region.

After Independence

When India gained independence in 1947, the division of the country did not cause problems in Tamil Nadu. There was no violence between different religions. Tamil Nadu had always had a peaceful environment where all religions respected each other.

The Congress Party formed the first government in the Madras Presidency. Rajaji became the first Chief Minister. The Madras Presidency was later renamed Madras State.

In 1968, the Madras State was officially named Tamil Nadu, meaning "the land of the Tamils."

During the 1970s and 80s, the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka caused many Sri Lankan Tamils to seek safety in Tamil Nadu.

How Politics Changed

Tamil Nadu's politics have changed in three main ways since independence. First, the Congress Party was dominant after 1947. Then, in the 1960s, the Dravidian parties became very popular. This lasted until the late 1990s. The most recent phase has seen the Dravidian parties split into many groups, leading to political alliances and governments formed by different parties working together.

Images for kids

A temple from the Chola period. The Cholas united most of southern India under one rule during the 10th and 11th centuries CE.
Shore Temple in Mamallapuram built by the Pallavas. (around 8th century CE)
Map of the Pandyan Empire.
The Brihadisvara Temple.
Map of the Chera Empire.
Tanjore became an important cultural center in the 18th and 19th centuries, under Maratha rule. This image shows a Tanjore painting from that time.
Ramachandra Tondaiman, king of Pudukkottai, at his court, around 1858.
Mohamed Ali Khan Wallajah, Nawab of the Carnatic (1717–1795).
The Madras famine of 1877. This image shows relief being given out. From the Illustrated London News (1877).