சஙககல இனககழ சரநத நலவடம சமதயததன வளணம / Agricultural Practices in Sangam-Era Tribal and Early Landowning Communities

Agriculture served as the basis of life for the Sangam people. It shaped their socio-economic and cultural structure. Initially, Tamil people operated within a tribal lifestyle and relied on collected food assets such as vegetables and meat without a transition to a civilised society. From this tribal structure, Tamil society emerged as a land-based (Thinai) society and the early agricultural practices consisted of Punsai agriculture (Wetland agriculture) and Nansai agriculture (Dryland agriculture). These structures reflect the slow formation of land cultivation and resource control. As political regimes evolved, the king’s rule marked vast improvements in farming techniques in the fertile Marudam Land (Agricultural Field Area) and heightened agricultural prosperity. Sangam literature highlights the nature of agriculture and portrays it as both an economic necessity and a cultural importance. The transition from a tribal group to a systematic cultivation portrays the expansive social shift toward a settled community. By understanding the ancient agricultural practices, this article emphasises the dynamics between land and political power in early Tamil society. The agrarian improvements under different regimes contributed to socio-economic stability and reinforced the enduring significance of agriculture in the Sangam life. This study also offers insights into the early function of agriculture in shaping the early Sangam Tamil civilisation. Hence, this article explores various agricultural practices documented in the Sangam literature with textual evidence.