The word 'Sangam' refers to the association of poets who flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings at Madurai. The poems composed by these poets are collectively known as Sangam literature; the period of their composition is the Sangam Age. The Muvendars – Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas – controlled Tamizhagam.
1. The Sangam Age at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time span | 3rd century BCE to c. 3rd century CE |
| Tamizhagam | Vengadam (Tirupathi hill) in the north to Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) in the south; bounded by sea on the east and the west |
| Age | Iron Age |
| Culture | Megalithic |
| Polity | Monarchy |
| Dynasties ruled | The Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas |