Question

The Sangam literature gives a complete and true picture of the economic conditions of the age. Describe the economic life of the people with reference to:

Agriculture

Answer 1

Agriculture was the main occupation of a large section of the people. The land was held by individuals as well as by the state. The land was fertile and there was plenty of grain, meat, and fish. The Chola Country was watered by the river Kaveri. About this country, there was a saying that “the space in which an elephant did lie down produced enough grain to feed seven persons.” The Chera region was well-known for its buffaloes, jack-fruit, pepper, and turmeric. The rich did not plough the land themselves. They hired laborers, called pariyars, for this job. The pariyars belonged to the lowest social class and skinned dead animals also.