Editing History of India (section)

==== Sangam period ====
{{Main|Sangam period|Sources of ancient Tamil history|Sangam literature|Five Great Epics}}
{{See also|Three Crowned Kings|Tamilakam|List of Tamil monarchs}}
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| image1            = South India in Sangam Period.jpg
| caption1          = [[Tamilakam]], located at the tip of [[South India]] during the Sangam period, ruled by [[Chera dynasty]], [[Chola dynasty]] and the [[Pandyan dynasty]].
| image2            = Puhar-ILango.jpg
| caption2          = [[Ilango Adigal]], author of [[Silappatikaram]], one of the [[the Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature|five great epics]] of [[Tamil literature]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Prince ILango Adigal, Shilappadikaram (The anklet Bracelet), translated by Alain Damelou. Review.|journal=Artibus Asiae|volume=37|issue=1/2|year=1975|pages=148–150|last=Rosen|first=Elizabeth S.|jstor=3250226|doi=10.2307/3250226}}</ref>
}}

During the Sangam period [[Tamil language|Tamil]] literature flourished from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. Three Tamil dynasties, collectively known as the [[Three Crowned Kings]] of [[Tamilakam]]: [[Chera dynasty]], [[Chola dynasty]], and the [[Pandya dynasty]] ruled parts of southern India.{{sfn|Sen|1999|pp=204–205}}

The Sangam literature deals with the history, politics, wars, and culture of the Tamil people of this period.<ref>''Essays on Indian Renaissance'' by Raj Kumar p. 260</ref> Unlike Sanskrit writers who were mostly Brahmins, Sangam writers came from diverse classes and social backgrounds and were mostly non-Brahmins.<ref>''The First Spring: The Golden Age of India'' by [[Abraham Eraly]] p. 655</ref>

Around {{circa}} 300 BCE – {{circa}} 200 CE, [[Pathupattu]], an anthology of ten mid-length book collections, which is considered part of [[Sangam Literature]], were composed; the composition of eight anthologies of poetic works [[Ettuthogai]] as well as the composition of eighteen minor poetic works [[Patiṉeṇkīḻkaṇakku]]; while [[Tolkāppiyam]], the earliest grammarian work in the [[Tamil language]] was developed.<ref>* Zvelebil, Kamil. 1973. The smile of Murugan on Tamil literature of South India. Leiden: Brill. Zvelebil dates the ''Ur-Tholkappiyam'' to the 1st or 2nd century BCE</ref> Also, during Sangam period, two of [[the Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature]] were composed. [[Ilango Adigal]] composed ''[[Silappatikaram]]'', which is a non-religious work, that revolves around [[Kannagi (Tamil mythology)|Kannagi]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamilnadu.com/arts/literature-silappathikaram.html|title=Silappathikaram Tamil Literature|publisher=Tamilnadu.com|date=22 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411214545/http://tamilnadu.com/arts/literature-silappathikaram.html|archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> and ''[[Manimekalai]]'', composed by [[Chithalai Chathanar]], is a sequel to ''Silappatikaram'', and tells the story of the daughter of [[Kovalan]] and [[Madhavi (Silappatikaram)|Madhavi]], who became a [[Buddhist]] [[Bhikkhunī|Bhikkhuni]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mukherjee|1999|p=277}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gretil.sub.uni-goettingen.de/gretil/4_drav/tamil/pm/pm141__u.htm|title=Cittalaiccattanar (c. 500): Manimekalai|website=gretil.sub.uni-goettingen.de}}</ref>