Samacheer Class 6 Social Science - Ancient Cities of Tamilagam

Harappa and Mohenjodaro were prominent cities of ancient India.
They developed along the banks of the river Indus.
They were the symbol of urban civilization.
They had very good town planning, a well-constructed house, well-maintained drainage system.
They had very good civic sense.
They developed pottery, ornaments as well as a script which is yet to be deciphered.

In Tamizhagam the well-known cities were Madurai, Kanchi, and Poompuhar.
Poompuhar is one of the oldest towns in ancient Tamizhagam.
Madurai has been one of the oldest cities in India.
It is known as “Sangam Valartha Nagaram”
Kanchi is the oldest town in Thondai Nadu.
Scholars like Dharmabalar, Jothibalar, Sumathi, and Bodhi Dharma were born in Kanchi.

Tamil literature, accounts of foreign travellers, and archaeological finds provide information about the ancient towns of Tamizhagam.
Sangam Tamil Literature Pattinappaalai and Tamil epics Silappathikaram and Manimegalai have references about Poompuhar.
Madurai is proudly associated with three Sangams.
The fame of Madurai can be attested from the accounts of the Greek historian Megasthenes.
Chanakya mentions Madurai in his famous work Arthashastra.
The Chinese Traveller Hieun Tsang writes about the greatness of Kanchi.
Poet Kalidasa refers to Kanchi as the best of the towns.

Water management played an important role in the agrarian society of those times.
Hundreds of lakes were created for storing water around the town of Kanchi.
These lakes were well connected with canals.
During the later period, Kanchi came to be known as the district of lakes.

Modem Iraq was called Mesopotamia in the ancient period. It was the birthplace of Sumerian civilization.
Iraq is watered by two rivers namely Euphrates and Tigris.
It is an important trading centre.
Pattinappaalai speaks about the trade relations of Iraq With other countries.

Poompuhar was a port.
Big traders and sea traders had settled down there.
Numerous merchants from foreign countries such as Greece and Rome landed at Poompuhar.
Brisk seaborne trade took place in Puhar.
Foreign traders stayed on indefinitely at Puhar.
There is evidence of foreign settlements in the town.

Poet Kalidasa says “Kanchi is the best of the towns”.
Poet Thirunavukarasar praises Kanchi as “Kalviyil Karaiillatha Kanchi.
Hieun Tsang has said,”Kanchi can be counted as one among the seven sacred places like Budh Gaya and Sanchi”.

Kanchi is also known as the Temple city.
The famous Kailasanathar temple is at Kanchi.
There are a large number of cave temples in Kanchi. So Kanchi is known as the Temple city.

Several schools were established in great numbers in Kanchi.
There were Jainpallis and Viharas.
The Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited Kanchi Kadigai to continue his studies
Tamil poet saint Thirunavukarasar praises Kanchi as’Kalviyil karaiillatha Kanchi’.