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Tamil Nadu which holds in itself a land, a language and a culture existed
since the prehistoric times. Human settlement here is said to have existed
cotemporary to the civilizations in other parts of world. They existed
not as isolated regions of human settlements but was connected through
trade. Tamil Nadu was earlier known as Tamilham. The existence of ports
such as Arikamedu, Karipattinam, Korkai ware proofs of the Tamilian advancement
in establishing relations with other regions of the world. The Tamilians
were said to be of Dravidian origin and they originally resided in the
north west. With the advancement of the Indo-Aryans the Dravidians were
e pushed south. The Sangam literature is the basis of Tamil History, culture
and organisations from the 3rd century AD. The Cholas , the Pallavas,
the Pandyas and the Cheras had their influence on Tamil Nadu and established
their kingdoms. The Pallavas established their reign at kanchipuram in
about the 4th century Ad. They held power over the land of the Tamils
from 6th and 9th centuries. At the end of the 9th century the Cholas established
themselves they extended their empire and established contacts South East
Asia.
In the 13 the century the Pandyas dominated. The establishment
of the Vijayanagar empire brought the downfall of the  Pandyas.
This empire ruled till the 16th century preserving and promoting Hindu
culture. The Muslim powers influenced this region politically. The
Marathas also influenced Madurai and Thanjavur till the advent of the
English who wrested power from the French. During the 17th and the 18th
centuries, conflicts between the trading companies of Europe for control
of the major parts in the east. The British managed to control this region
in the 19th century. This region was under the domain of the East India
Company and continued till independence after which the three states of
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa were formed. The region under the
jurisdiction of the Madras Presidency formed into a single unit and named
Tamil Nadu in 1969. |
