Tamil
Nadu is the home of the Tamils and their Dravidian culture.
Their history presents an exciting pageant of a powerful
civilization whose origin dates back to ancient times.
It is clear that the Tamils, who belong to the Dravidian
race, were the first major occupants of the country
and settled in the North Western part of India long
before the coming of the Aryans. Excavations have revealed
that the features of the people of the Indus Valley
Civilization bore a strong resemblance to this race.
However, with the advent of the Aryans, the Dravidians
were pushed back into the deep south where they ultimately
settled. By the last centuries BC the region was controlled by
three major dynasties - the Cholas in the east, Pandyas
in the central area and Cheras in the west. This was
also the classical period of Tamil literature - the
Sangam Age - that continued for some three centuries
after the birth of Christ. The Tamil Sangam is the one
major source of knowledge about the administration,
art, architecture and economic conditions that existed
then. The domains of these dynasties changed many times
over the centuries. At times other sovereignties became
powerful. The Pallava dynasty was influential particularly
in the 7th
and 8th centuries when it constructed many
monuments at Mamallapuram. Although all these dynasties
engaged in continual skirmishes, their steady patronage
of the arts served to consolidate and expand Dravidian
civilization.
In the 13th century, with threats of Muslim invasions
from the north, the southern Hindu dynasties combined
and the empire of Vijayanagar, which incorporated all
of South India became firmly established. However, in
the 16th century, the Vijayanagar empire began to weaken
and by the 17th century, Southern India was ruled by
various provincial leaders, most notably the Nayaks,
who continued the development of monumental architecture.
In 1640, the British negotiated the use of Chennaipatnam
(now Chennai) as a trading post. Subsequent interest
on the part of the French, Dutch and Danes led to continual
conflict and finally almost total domination by the
British. Small-pocketed areas including Pondicherry
and Karaikal remained under French control. Under British
colonial rule most of South India was integrated into
the region called Chennai Presidency. Many Tamils played
a significant part in the struggle for Independence.
In 1956, the Chennai Presidency was disbanded and Tamil
Nadu was established- an autonomous state based on linguistic
lines.
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