receiving the resources from the hills and the port of Musiri. XI History - Lesson - - Evolution of Society in South India Trade played an important role between the late first century BCE and third century CE. Political Ascendancy of the Vendar From the chiefs of the Iron Age (c. - BCE) emerged the Vendar of the early historic period.
While certain chiefs attained higher status ( vendar ) through the larger and effective control of pastoral and agricultural regions, others in the marginal regions remained as chieftains ( velir ). For example, Athiyamans, mentioned as Satiyaputra in the Ashoka inscriptions, became weak and did not attain the status of kings like the Chola, Pandya and Chera vendar . The Vendar subjugated the chieftains and fought with the other two Vendars. For this they mobilized their own warriors, besides seeking the support of some Velir chiefs.
The adoption of titles was one of the measures adopted by the Sangam Age Vendar to display their power. Titles such as Kadungo, Imayavaramban and Vanavaramban and PeruVazhuthi distinguished themselves from the ordinary people and the Velirs. The patronization of bards and poets and entertaining them in their courts ( avaiyam ) was probably a step undertaken by the kings to glorify their name and fame and also their territories and towns. For example, the Chola king Karikalan is said to have offered a huge amount of gold coins to Uruttirankannanar who composed Pattinappalai .