Page 66 - sst_class_06

In tHe soutHern IndIa (tamIl regIon)

1. Ordinary ploughmen also known as Uzhavar.
2. Large landowners also known as Vellalar.

3. Landless labourers, including slaves, known as Kadaisiyar and Adimai.

In tHe nortHern part of tHe country

People used to follow the same profession for generations what their parents or grandparents
had. In simple words, the post or profession was hereditary.

The village headman or the largest landowner was known as the grama bhojaka. Generally, he
had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land. Besides, the king often used him to collect

taxes from the village as he was considered economically powerful. He would sometimes
perform the duties of a policeman and a judge also. The independent smaller landowners and
farmers were known as grihapatis. People without land were called as dasa Karmakara and to
earn their living, they had to work on others fields. Apart from these, in most villages, there
were also some crafts persons such as the blacksmith, potter, carpenter and weaver. etc.

Some of the earliest works in Tamil, Known as Sangam literature, were composed around 2300
years ago. These texts were called Sangam because they were supposed to have been composed and
compiled in assemblies (known as sangams) of poets that were held in the city of Madurai.

fIndIng out aBout cItIes

You may have heard of the Jatakas. The Jataka stories are extremely popular folktales.
These were composed by ordinary people. The tales are based upon the events that took
place during the many births of the Buddha. Each tale has a deep meaning and moral
attached to Buddhist traditions.

For the historians, the Jataka tales are an
invaluable source as they throw light upon
the every day thought and life of the people
of the period. Many valuable information
about the development of Indian sculpture,

social and economic conditions of northern
and southern India of that time are known
from the Greek accounts. The Roman and
Greek traders, travellers came to the coastal
kingdom especially to the Chola empire. Ring well found in Delhi : In what ways, do you think this system of
They traded with the modern Tamil Nadu drainge was different from that of the Harapans?
and mixed with the culture and tradition

of India. Their stay influenced Indian culture, art, agriculture, etc. They tell us of the
developed condition of goods, many crafts, existence of a brisk trade with the outside
world and about the general prosperous condition of the country.
66 Social Studies-6