Hiphop Tamizha - #Tamizhi | Episode 4 | The Sangam Era

HiphopTamizha

24 Oct 201915:15

Summary

TLDRThe script explores the rich history of the Tamil language, dating back 2500 years, and its continuous use through inscriptions and literature. It highlights archaeological findings, such as memorial stones and pot sherds with Tamil inscriptions, which confirm the literacy and civilization of ancient Tamil people. Excavations in Keezhadi reveal urban civilization and the existence of a government, contradicting previous beliefs. The script also connects ancient Tamil inscriptions with names of kings from Sangam literature, proving the historical accuracy of these texts and the advanced society of the time.

Takeaways

📜 The Tamizh language and script have been in use for over 2500 years, as evidenced by deciphered inscriptions.
🌐 The Sangam literature, which discusses ancient Tamizh language and culture, is not a myth but a reflection of the ancient people's way of life.
🏺 Memorial stones found in Tamil Nadu, particularly those from the 4th Century BC in Pulimaankombai, confirm the use of the Tamizh script during the Sangam era.
📝 The pure Tamizh language found on these stones, without any Prakrit influence, indicates a high level of literacy among ancient Tamizh people.
🏛️ Archaeological excavations in Tamil Nadu have revealed a rich script culture, with over 800 pot sherds and coins bearing Tamizh inscriptions.
🏢 The Keezhadi excavation near Madurai provided evidence of urban civilization in ancient Tamil Nadu, contradicting previous beliefs.
🏆 The discovery of coins from the Keezhadi excavation suggests the existence of a government and organized polity in ancient Tamil Nadu.
👑 Names of kings mentioned in Sangam literature, such as Nedunchezian, have been found in Tamizh inscriptions, proving the historical existence of these rulers.
🔍 The script found on pot sherds and other materials indicates a literate society where even common people were well-versed in writing.
🌟 The Graffiti script found in both the Indus Valley Civilization and Tamil Nadu shows a striking similarity, hinting at cultural or historical connections.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Tamizh language and script as discussed in the script?
-The Tamizh language and script are significant because they have been in use for over 2500 years, as evidenced by the deciphering of ancient inscriptions. This makes it one of the oldest languages still in use today.
How do the ancient Tamizh inscriptions prove the existence of the Sangam literature?
-The ancient Tamizh inscriptions prove the existence of the Sangam literature by showing that the language and script discussed in these ancient texts were actually used by people at the time, thus validating the historical and cultural accounts provided by the literature.
What is the importance of the memorial stones found in Pulimaankombai?
-The memorial stones found in Pulimaankombai are important because they are among the most ancient memorial stones ever found in India, dating back to the 4th Century BC. They contain inscriptions in pure Tamizh without any Prakrit language influence, which supports the idea that the Tamizh script and language were well-established during the Sangam era.
How do the pot sherds with Tamizh inscriptions contribute to our understanding of ancient Tamizh society?
-The pot sherds with Tamizh inscriptions indicate a high literacy rate among the common people in ancient Tamizh Nadu. This suggests that writing was a part of everyday life and not just limited to the elite or rulers.
What evidence did the Keezhadi excavation provide for the existence of an urban civilization in ancient Tamizh Nadu?
-The Keezhadi excavation provided evidence for the existence of an urban civilization in ancient Tamizh Nadu by uncovering brick constructions, which are characteristic of urban civilizations, and coins, which indicate the presence of a government or ruling authority.
Why were historians skeptical about the existence of a civilized kingdom during the Sangam era?
-Historians were skeptical about the existence of a civilized kingdom during the Sangam era because not many brick constructions, which are indicative of urban civilization, were found in previous excavations in Tamizh Nadu.
What does the term 'Second Urbanization' refer to in the context of the script?
-The term 'Second Urbanization' refers to the period following the Indus Valley civilization, where urban civilizations are believed to have developed further. The Keezhadi excavation challenged the notion that Tamizh Nadu did not experience this phase of urban development.
How do the inscriptions found in Keezhadi confirm the existence of kings mentioned in Sangam literature?
-The inscriptions found in Keezhadi include the names of kings mentioned in Sangam literature, such as King Nedunchezian, providing strong evidence that these kings and the civilization they ruled over were real and not merely mythological.
What was the mystery surrounding King Athiyamān and how was it resolved?
-The mystery surrounding King Athiyamān was whether he was the same person referred to as 'Sadhiyabudho' by King Ashoka. This was resolved by an inscription found near Thagadur, confirming that Ashoka indeed referred to Athiyamān by this name.
What does the script found in the Indus Valley Civilization have in common with the script found in Tamizh Nadu?
-The script found in the Indus Valley Civilization, referred to as 'Graffiti,' is almost the same as the Graffiti found in Tamizh Nadu, suggesting a possible cultural or linguistic connection between the two regions.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Ancient Tamil Language and Script

The paragraph discusses the continuity of the Tamil language and script over 2500 years, highlighting the importance of deciphering Tamil inscriptions as evidence of this continuity. It emphasizes the significance of Sangam literature and the discovery of memorial stones, particularly those found in Pulimaankombai, which are dated back to the 4th Century BC. The script on these stones is pure Tamil without any Prakrit influence, indicating a high level of literacy among the ancient Tamil people. The paragraph also touches upon the cultural practices reflected in Sangam literature and how these inscriptions provide tangible proof of the ancient Tamil civilization.

05:02

🏺 Tamil Inscriptions and Civilization

This section delves into the discovery of Tamil inscriptions on various artifacts like coins and pot sherds, which serve as evidence of a literate society in ancient Tamil Nadu. It questions the lack of such inscriptions in North India and contrasts it with the abundance found in Tamil Nadu, suggesting a higher level of civilization in the region. The paragraph also discusses the recent Keezhadi excavation, which unearthed evidence of urban civilization, contrary to previous beliefs. The discovery of brick constructions and coins from this period challenges the notion that ancient Tamil Nadu lacked urban development and establishes the existence of a structured government during the Sangam era.

10:04

🏛️ Evidence of Ancient Tamil Kingdoms

The final paragraph focuses on the historical significance of Tamil inscriptions that mention kings from the Sangam literature, providing a direct link between these ancient texts and the actual rulers of the time. It discusses the discovery of inscriptions that name King Nedunchezian and other Chera kings, confirming their existence and the reality of the kingdoms they ruled. The paragraph also addresses the long-standing mystery surrounding King Sathyaputra's identity and how it was resolved through an inscription found near Thagadur. The summary concludes by emphasizing the importance of these findings in validating the historical accuracy of Sangam literature and the advanced civilization of the ancient Tamil people.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Tamizh

Tamizh, also known as Tamil, is a classical language predominantly spoken in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In the video, it is mentioned as a language that has been spoken for over 2500 years, indicating its ancient origins and continuity. The script discusses how the language and its script have been used to prove the existence and culture of ancient Tamil people through deciphering inscriptions and literature.

💡Sangam literature

Sangam literature refers to the ancient Tamil literature produced during the period of the Tamil Sangam, a supposed academy of poets and scholars. The video highlights the importance of Sangam literature as a source of evidence for the ancient Tamil language, culture, and history. It is used to demonstrate that the literature is not a myth but reflects the real culture and practices of the ancient Tamil people.

💡Inscriptions

Inscriptions are formal texts or symbols inscribed on various materials like stone, metal, or pottery. In the context of the video, Tamil inscriptions are crucial as they provide tangible evidence of the ancient Tamil language, script, and culture. The script mentions the discovery of inscriptions in Tamil script, which supports the historical existence of the language and its use in ancient times.

💡Archaeologists

Archaeologists are scientists who study human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. The video discusses the efforts of archaeologists in proving the authenticity of Tamil literature and culture by finding evidence in the form of inscriptions and other artifacts.

💡Memorial stones

Memorial stones are monuments or markers erected in memory of a deceased person or event. The video mentions memorial stones found in Tamil Nadu, which are significant because they often have inscriptions that provide insights into the culture and practices of ancient Tamil people. The discovery of such stones with Tamil inscriptions supports the historical narrative provided by Sangam literature.

💡Pulimaankombai

Pulimaankombai is a place in Tamil Nadu where significant archaeological discoveries were made, as mentioned in the video. The discovery of memorial stones from the 4th Century BC in Pulimaankombai is highlighted as a turning point in Tamil history, proving the existence and use of the Tamil language and script during the Sangam era.

💡Prakrit language

Prakrit is a group of ancient Indian languages that were spoken alongside Sanskrit. The video notes that inscriptions found in Sramana caves had Prakrit language mixed in them, while the memorial stones found in Pulimaankombai had inscriptions in pure Tamil without any Prakrit influence, indicating the distinct linguistic identity of the Tamil people.

💡Literacy rate

Literacy rate refers to the proportion of people in a population who can read and write. The video suggests that the ancient Tamil people had a good literacy rate, as evidenced by the numerous inscriptions found on various artifacts, including pot sherds. This implies a widespread ability to read and write among the common people, not just the elite.

💡Keezhadi excavation

Keezhadi excavation refers to an archaeological dig near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, which has yielded significant findings related to the ancient Tamil civilization. The video emphasizes that this excavation provided evidence of urban civilization in ancient Tamil Nadu, contradicting previous beliefs that such civilization did not exist.

💡Coins

Coins are a form of currency that also serve as historical artifacts. In the video, the discovery of coins during the Keezhadi excavation is highlighted as evidence of a government or polity in ancient Tamil Nadu. The presence of coins indicates organized trade and a centralized authority, which is a characteristic of urban civilization.

💡Second Urbanization

Second Urbanization refers to the period following the Indus Valley Civilization, during which urban centers and complex societies are believed to have developed. The video discusses how the Keezhadi excavation challenged the notion that there was no second urbanization in Tamil Nadu, proving the existence of an urban civilization through the discovery of brick constructions and other artifacts.

Highlights

Tamizh language and script have been used consistently for over 2500 years.

Deciphering Tamizhi inscriptions proved the continuity of the language.

Sangam literature, if found in Tamizhi script, confirms its historical authenticity.

Archaeologists' efforts have been dedicated to proving the antiquity of Tamizh literature.

Tamizhi is unique among South East Asian languages for its ancient literature.

Ancient Sangam literature references memorial stones with names, reflecting respect for the deceased.

No memorial stones with Brahmi inscriptions have been found in Tamizh Nadu.

The discovery of three ancient memorial stones in Pulimaankombai dates back to the 4th Century BC.

The inscriptions on the Pulimaankombai stones are in pure Tamizh without any Prakrit influence.

The use of pure Tamizh in inscriptions indicates a high literacy rate among ancient Tamizh people.

Excavations in Tamizh Nadu have uncovered a wealth of Tamizhi inscriptions on various artifacts.

Over 800 pot sherds with Tamizhi inscriptions have been found, indicating widespread literacy.

The Keezhadi excavation revealed evidence of an urban civilization in ancient Tamizh Nadu.

Coins found in Keezhadi suggest the existence of a government and authority in ancient Tamizh Nadu.

Names of kings from Sangam literature were found in Tamizhi inscriptions, confirming their historical existence.

The inscriptions provide insights into the cultural practices and civilization of ancient Tamizh people.

The findings challenge the notion that Tamizh literature is a myth, proving it reflects the true lifestyle of ancient people.

The script found in the Indus Valley Civilization is similar to the 'Graffiti' found in Tamizh Nadu.