32 Iron Age – Early Historic Transition in South India

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Introduction

 

The Iron Age or Megalithic Age is an important cultural phase that marked the end of the prehistoric period in the history of South India. The Iron Age was succeeded by the Early Historic period, which is generally considered as the beginning of the historical period. The lesson focuses on the transition from the Iron Age to Early Historic in South India. Initially, the primary characteristics of the Iron Age are discussed, followed by the features of Early Historic period, and then the agencies and processes of transition are discussed.

 

Before discussing the core issues concerning the Iron Age -Early Historic transition in south India, it is important to understand a few important concepts and terms related to the subject.

 

History and Prehistory

 

The long span of history is generally divided into historical and prehistoric periods, based on the presence or absence of writing. Historical period is considered to begin with the introduction of writing. Writing did bring some major changes in human history. However, the beginning of historical period should be seen as part of the developments leading to the social complexities that required the introduction of writing. Let’s look at the differences between Historical and Prehistoric periods.

 

1.1 Iron Age

 

Dating of culture, reigns of kings are relatively accurate Iron technology was introduced in the Iron Age for making implements. Before the Iron Age, mainly stone and wooden artefacts were used by the people. Iron Age in South India is associated with the megalithic (mega= big + lithic= stone) burial monuments and Black-and-red Ware pottery (pottery with black inner surfaces and red outer surface). The Iron Age succeeded the Late Neolithic Phase. The Iron Age is tentatively dated between 1300 BCE and 500 BCE in South India. The Iron Age did not have the evidence for writing.

 

1.2 Early Historic period

 

The Early Historic period in south India is generally placed between third century BCE and third century CE. However, a few researchers are of the view that the Early Historic period began around 500 BCE. We get a clearer picture of South India from the textual sources from this period. The Nanda and Maurya dynasties of Northern India had influenced and developed contacts with South India during this period. The early dynasties of the Cheras, the Cholas, the Pandiyas and the Satavahanas were the political powers of this period. The use of writing developed. The megalithic burial tradition of the Iron Age also continued in the Early Historic period in some regions.

 

1.3 Transition

 

What is transition? Transition refers to the changes in the culture and ways of life of the people. How shall we understand transition? We often understand the transition based on the changes in the material culture and from the evidence in the written documents or textual sources. Why do we divide time into various units, for example, Ancient India, Medieval India and Modern India? Such divisions are done on the basis of major cultural and historical changes. However, the divisions should not be considered to be watertight, i.e. we should not think that the changes took place overnight. Changes happen sometimes gradually over a period of time. Combination of several factors causes the change and transition.

 

2. Objectives

 

In this Chapter, we shall attempt to understand the cultural and historical transition from the Iron Age to the Early Historic period in South India. We will also attempt to understand the changes in the materials culture and the agencies and process responsible for the changes.

 

3. Characteristics of the Iron Age

 

Before understanding the transition, we need to understand the characteristics of each cultural period. Now let’s understand the characteristics of the Iron Age.

 

The Iron Age perhaps began around 1300 BCE and lasted till beginning of the Early Historic period, i.e. 300 BCE. The important characteristic features of this period can be divided into material cultural traits and agencies and processes. Agencies and processes cause change in culture and the material cultural traits are the reflections of such changes. In history our aim should be not only to understand the material representation of the changes, but also the processes.

 

3.1 . Material Cultural Traits

  • Megalithic Burials
  • Black-and-red Ware Pottery
  • Introduction of Iron Technology

3.2 . Processes

 

Development of Agriculture and Pastoralism

  • Craft Specialization
  • Population Increase
  • Increase in warfare and Conflicts
  • Development of Long Distance Trade
  • Contacts and Movement of People and Ideas from Northern India and beyond
  • Development of Regional Languages

3.1 Material Cultural Factors

 

Material culture shows higher diversity during the Iron Age, than the Neolithic period. New material cultural traits became popular.

 

3.1.1 Megalithic Burials

 

Megalithic burials are large burial monuments erected in memory of the dead. Burials did exist in the Neolithic period, but they were simple in nature. However the Iron Age saw the elaborate construction of burials for the dead and the burials became centres of rituals and worship. The burial monuments were considered to have been introduced due to the migration of ideas from the Europe, by the earlier researchers. Now it is certain that the burials existed in India from the earlier period, as traces of burials associated with stones are found at the Harappan sites of Dholavira. The construction of large burials with a lot of artefacts suggests major social changes including social hierarchy and a more organized society, when compared to the Neolithic period.

 

3.1.2 Black-and-Red Ware Pottery

 

Black-and-Red Ware pottery was widely used in South India and Sri Lanka during this period. The presence of Black-and-Red ware pottery all across South India indicates the widespread dispersal of ideas and ceramic and material cultural techniques, and to a limited extent population movement. Besides the characteristic Black-and-Red Ware pottery, Red Ware and Black Ware were also used. In addition white-painted Black-and-Red Ware was also in vogue. Such uniform and standardized shapes reveal craft specialization.

 

3.1.3 Introduction of Iron Technology

 

Iron technology was introduced during this period. Evidence for the early introduction of Iron is found at several sites such as Hallur, Komaranahalli and Tadakanahalli in Karnataka, Veerapuram in Andhra Pradesh, and also at Telunganur in Tamil Nadu, Mangadu in Kerala. The introduction of iron implements perhaps caused importance changes over a period of time. However, the iron objects alone did not revolutionize, as the social changes determined the kinds of artefacts produced. The society used iron according to its social requirements. Apart from the use for cultivation, iron implements were used for making weapons of warfare. Large scale production of weapons of offence took place.

 

3.2. Processes

 

Processes refer to factors related to historical and cultural dynamics such as migration of people and ideas, population density and long distance trade.

 

3.2.1 Development of Agriculture and Pastoralism

 

During the Neolithic period in South India, agriculture was limited mainly to a few areas in the regions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and parts of northwestern Tamil Nadu. However, in the Iron Age, knowledge of cultivation of cereals perhaps spread across south India. We do get evidence for the spread of cultivation in southern Tamil Nadu as far as T. Kallupatti near Madurai in the Iron Age context. Similarly pastoralism, i.e. cattle and sheep-goat rearing, also continued to spread across. Cultivation of rice was probably introduced in the wet areas and in the river deltas during the Iron Age. The use of tank irrigation to tap the monsoon rain water increased. We see a large number of Iron Age sites in the dry areas, which was possible only through the water harvesting system in the form of lakes or tanks.

 

3.2.2 Craft Specialization

 

Craft specialization refers to the processes of specialized production of material culture. In the prehistoric period people produced their own artefacts. There were no specialized craftspeople.

 

However, after the Neolithic period, when large group of people settled at one place and the technology improved, the production process of artefacts became complex. The specialization began when iron technology was introduced, and potters also emerged as independent crafts people, because of the huge demand for ceramics from the agrarian and pastoral communities.

 

3.2.3 Population Increase

 

The Neolithic sites were mainly confined to the core areas of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh. During the Iron Age, the archaeological sites were found all across South India. It is obvious that almost entire South India from the east coast to the west coast was heavily occupied for the first time. The increase in population was also an important factor for the development of social complexities during the Iron Age.

 

3.2.4 Increase in Warfare and Conflicts

 

The population increase and social complexities also contributed to the competition for control of resources such as cattle and sheep-goat, pastures and raw material sources. Unlike the hunter-gatherers, the agro-pastoral communities had accumulated wealth in the form of cattle, sheep-goat or grains. The agro-pastoral communities required pastures and water sources for the sustenance of the cattle, as well as sheep-goat. Perhaps this is the reason why people spread out during the Iron Age, when there was a shortage of resources within a specific area. The accumulated wealth and interest in controlling the resources contributed to the conflicts. These conflicts perhaps influenced the making of weapons of offence which are often seen in the megalithic burials.

 

3.2.5 Development of Long Distance Trade

 

The Iron Age communities were not in isolation and they were interacting across South India. The presence of etched carnelian beads, the typology of metal objects from the megalithic burials suggests the increased cultural contacts. Perhaps exchange of goods among the various eco-zones also developed in this period. Products of sea such as shells are found in the megalithic burials of the interior region, and dry fish, salt and rice.

 

3.2.6 Contacts and Movement of People and Ideas from Northern India and beyond

 

Often archaeologists underestimate the cultural contacts of the early period. South India perhaps witnessed movements of ideas from the west and northern part of India. The making of etched carnelian beads and the use of shell bangles date back to the Harappan times. People sometime think that Harappans moved to South India in a large scale, after the fall of the civilization, which appears to be a farfetched theory in the light of archaeological data. However, it is certain that the ideas and technology regimes of Harappan culture spread to different parts of India. The graffiti on the megalithic pottery show similarity with the symbols of the Harappan period.

 

3.2.7 Foundation for the Development of Regional Languages

 

Proto South Dravidian (Tamil and Malayalam) and Proto North Dravidian (Telugu and Kannada) languages began to split around 1500 BCE. There is a ground to argue that Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu languages had developed their basal characteristics by the end of the Iron Age. By the early historical times these languages began to develop as independent languages. One could argue that major population dispersal has completed by the Iron Age.

 

4. Characteristics of the Early Historic Period

 

The developments of the Iron Age attained the peak during the Early Historic period. The material culture of the Early Historic period is much more vibrant and diverse than that of the Iron Age, which was mainly agro-pastoral mainly with the iron and ceramic industrial production dominating. However, the Early Historic period witnessed several other industries related to the prestige goods. The polities of this period began to develop further and the political centres emerged and commercial activities and the intermediaries called merchants gained importance.

 

a.  Material Cultural Traits

  • Northern Black Polished Ware
  • Fine Rouletted Ware
  • Introduction of Brick Architecture   and Roof tiles
  • Andhra Ware or Satavahana or Russet-coated and Painted Ware

b. Agencies and Processes

  • Introduction of Script
  • Arrival of Jainism and Buddhism
  • Development of Polities
  • Mauryan Expansion
  • Rise of Urban Centres and Ports and Markets
  • Increased Movement of people
  • Indian Ocean Trade

Script was introduced into south India during the Early Historic period. Introduction of script is found in the form of Asokan inscriptions, and Satavahana inscriptions occur slightly later.

 

5. Early Political Formations in South India

 

Buy the end of the Iron Age, local chiefs emerged in different parts of South India. The rich variety of burial artefacts and the variations in the burial goods suggest the presence of polity. The Iron Age society might have been in the chiefdom level social organization. Perhaps the chiefs of the Iron Age were defeated by the Mauryas to take control of the northern part of South India.

 

The Mauryan presence in South India is an important factor heralding the beginning of historical period. Ashokan edicts reveal that the Mauryas controlled the key towns in the Karnataka-Andhra Region. Why the Mauryans came to southern part of India. The Mauryan conquest of South India must have happened before the conquest of Kalinga. It appears that Ashoka was seeking to consolidate his gains across India and Tamil literature has references to “Vamba Moriyar” (which means Belligrant Mauryas) and it appears that they have reached as far as Kanchipuram and perhaps Ashoka did not want to conquer the regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra, perhaps because of the poor mineral resources of the Tamil region. Ashokan inscriptions mention about the presence of the Keralaputra (Cheras), Satyaputra, Pandiya and Chozha as independent political entities. Ashokan administrative system did not extend to the entire south India and only the important towns were controlled. Similarly the Cholas, Pandiyas and Cheras did not reach the level of ‘ Early State’ in the Early Historic period. The Satavahana dynasty emerged after the fall of the Mauryas in Andhra-Karnataka region. The Satavahana rulers patronized religious sects and seem to have controlled the trade activities, and they issued coins with ship motifs. The Hathigumpha inscription mentions about a confederacy of Dramila kings before the beginning of the Common Era. Over all the state system was in an incipient stage during the early historic period.

 

6. Formation of a New Class and Occupational Groups

 

The chiefs and the ruling elites became an important new class and they obviously pooled the resources from the subjects and merchants and they occupied the important urban centres. The early historic period saw the emergence of a new class and occupational groups. Landowning class, chiefs, ruling elites, merchants and Buddhist monks were the new elites of this period. The poets and the monks were the intellectual elites and they were literate and had the understanding of philosophical texts. The Gatasaptasati was an important Prakrit text of the Satavahana period. The Tamil literature talks about the elites or the people with high virtues obviously erudite and religiously oriented, intellectuals who were perhaps influenced by the Jain and Buddhist philosophy. Merchants of gold, salt and other categories are mentioned in the early Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and they supported the activities of the monks. Apart from such class of educated people, there existed people who robbed the travelers and the dreaded hunters are also mentioned in the literature. This clearly brings out that the Early Historic period had population diversity ranging from the monks and educated class on the one side and the hunger-gatherers of the dry land who survived by waylaying the travelers. Obviously when such elites emerged they required the materials culture such as precious stone beads, gold ornaments and exotic artefacts to define their higher status.

 

7. Rise of “Urban” Centres and Urbanization

 

Large urban centres emerged during this period. Obviously the rise of new elites including the political chiefs and merchants caused the development of cities or towns. The towns perhaps had industrial workers, merchants and traders and the ruling elites. Kaveripattinam, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Veerapuram, Nagajunakonda, Muziris, Tondi, Banavasi, Sannati, Brahmagiri in Karnataka were important centres. The inter-regional exchange and the overseas contacts caused the development of marts and ports along the coastal areas.

 

The urban centres were located close to the raw material source and along the junction of the rivers and the sea. Crafts Groups were also present at the settlements and in addition migrant population were also present in some of the urban centres.

 

8. Material Cultural Diversity and Industrial Production

 

The Early Historic period witnessed the introduction of elite or prestige goods over the Iron Age. The variety of artefacts from the Early Historic sites is more and includes ornaments, non-consumable goods. At many of the Early Historic sites, evidence for gold working, bronze working, stone bead, glass bead and shell bangle and cotton industries is found. At the urban centres the production of such non-utilitarian artefacts point to the changes in the attitudes of the people. Evidence of Deluxe Ceramics from Northern and Eastern India are also found at many sites. Specialized production of goods also took place for export requirements.

 

Northern Black Polished Ware

 

The ceramics of Northern Black Polished Ware is found widely in South India from the Early Historic period. The presence of this pottery suggests the trade in ceramics and the interest from material culture caused the production of such deluxe pottery. It is also found in Sri Lanka and reached Southeast Asia.

 

Rouletted Ware

 

A ceramic dish called Rouletted Ware is found all over south India and this pottery is considered to have produced in the Bengal delta. This pottery is found in Egypt in the west and Vietnam in the east.

 

9. Mercantile Activities and Emergence of the Indian Ocean Trade Network

 

Trade and exchange network developed across India in the Iron Age, as indicated by the rich variety of artefacts found in the megalithic burials. The Indian Ocean region was linked through maritime trade routes during the Early Historic period. Several port sites emerged on the coasts of India from Bharoach in Gujarat to Chandraketugarh in West Bengal. Deluxe ceramics were produced, glass beads, stone ornaments, gold and silver coins and spices including pepper were traded across. The Greco-Roman sources such as  Periplus Marei Erythrea, and accounts of Pliny and Ptolemy mention about the important ports and marts of South India. The Rise of Roman Empire and its conquest of Egypt in first century BCE gave an important push to the maritime trade activities across the sea. The monsoon winds were used by the traders to sail across the Arabian Sea. The Indian Ocean trade activities supported rise of urban centres and South Indian traders and goods moved as far as Egypt in the West and also reached Southeast Asia.

 

10. The Early Coinage and Monetary System

 

Introduction of coinage was an important factor. Mauryan Punch marked coins are found at several sites in South India and this indirectly suggests the contacts with northern part of India. In addition the Roman Coins arrived at a later date around first century BCE. Perhaps the local kings Satavahanas, The Pandiyas, Cheras and the Cholas issued coins. Such coins are found all over south India. It is not clear what exactly the role of these coins in the economy was. They might have been used for their metal value and perhaps they were issued as an imitation of the Roman coins to assert their political authority. In addition to the coins barter of goods were mainly used by the people in their transactions.

 

11. Introduction of Script and Literacy in South India

 

One of the important developments of the Early Historic period is the introduction of script. Script was introduced for writing texts. Currently, there are three possible theories on the origin of script in South India. The early evidence of script is found at Bhattiprolu relic casket in Andhra Pradesh and also Brahmi inscriptions are found in several sites in Tamil Nadu, such as Mankulam Edakkal in Kerala, Sannathi in Karnataka. Since many of the early Brahmi inscriptions do not have referenced to dates it is difficult to date them and they could be dated only based on palaeography. That is why the dating of Brahmi inscription is open to speculation. The Bhattirpolu inscription is considered important since it has Dravidian affinities.

 

11.1 North Indian Source

 

One school of thought suggests that script originated in northern India and then it was introduced to South India. Scholars adhering to this view suggest that Ashoka pioneered the introduction of the script. They opined the earliest Brahmi is considered to have been derived from Semitic script.

 

11.2 South Indian Source

 

Based on recent archaeological research it is suggested that script occurs as early as 400 BCE in the Tamil region. However there is not enough evidence to suggest that script originated in the Tamil region.

 

11.3 Sri Lankan Source

 

One theory argues that script was first introduced at Sri Lanka. Based on the excavations at Anuradhapura and the early dates obtained from the strata with script on pottery it is argued that Brahmi had earlier origin in Sri Lanka.

 

11.4 Comments

 

Sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint where exactly certain traits originated. Like the issue of iron, It will not be feasible to pinpoint exactly where iron was first worked at and such issues often become associated with regional and national pride. Therefore it is sufficient to understand the script was widely used for commercial, political, religious and ownership and identity issues.

 

12. Early Religion and Intellectual and Spiritual Movements

 

What otherwise would call Religions are actually intellectual movements that sought to spread the message of peace among the people in different parts of south India. It appears that farmers and merchants took to these religions as revealed by the references in the texts and inscriptions. During this period, there existed hunter-gatherers and pastoralists.

 

12.1 Buddhism in South India

 

Movement of Buddhism in South India is a major factor in the religious history of South India. Many stupas were built in the key areas of South India. Buddhism spread to Sri Lanka. People were migrating. Mainly nature and ancestors were worshipped in south India. Population pressure and the need for colonization forced people to move away from northern part of India. Buddhist stupa remains of Early Historic period are found at several sites in South India. Amaravati, Jaggayyapetta, Bhattiprolu are some of the important stupas. They are found as far as Kanchipuram in the Tamil Nadu.

 

12.2 Jainism in South India

 

Jainism is said to have reached South India by Chandragupta Maurya and Bhadrabahu. Places of early Jain rock shelters are found in Tamil Nadu. They bear the inscriptions in Tamil Brahmi. The Janis also contributed to the development of Tamil literature. According to the tradition Bhadrabahu a Jaina disciple and Chandragupta Maurya is said to have come to Karnataka however evidence for early Jainism is not found. Jainism seems to have come to Tamil Nadu from an earlier period and it is suggested that it must have come through Karnataka region. The monks perhaps lived in the hillocks in various areas of Tamil Nadu and these hillocks are found in large number in the region around Madurai. Perhaps they learnt the local language and produced texts for spreading the messages among the people.

 

12.3 Worship of the Dead

 

The worship of the dead through the construction of megalithic burial continued during this period. Evidence for the existence of megalithic burials is found in the Tamil literature. Some of the megalithic burials actually belong to the Early Historic period. Presence of Roman coins and Russet Coated and Painted pottery in some of the burials prove that the megalithic burial traditions continued in the Early Historic period.

 

12.4 Hero stones

 

Worship of heroes who lost their lives in the battle was an important factor supporting community and a political system. Hero stone worship is mentioned frequently in the Tamil literature. Herostone tradition is a survival of the megalithic tradition. Some of the early hero stones also bear writing. A hero stone found in Pullimankombai reveals that the worship of heroes was important, and the script was used to popularize the names of the heroes.

 

13.Early Texts of South India

 

The Tamil texts point to a tradition of singing in praise of the leaders. The poets sang the ways of life of the people. Attempts to create a literary tradition also point to the support of the political powers. The Sangam Tamil texts talk in great detail about the ways of life of the people. The literature portrays a simple, primitive society that has not seen the state formation. Cattle lifting and the merchant activities are also mentioned.

 

14.Factors for transition and Mode of Transition

 

How did the transition from the Iron Age to early Historic period take place? As mentioned above several factors marked the transition from the Iron Age to the Early Historic period. A complex set of developments took place across South India. The rise of political formations, development of agriculture and pastoralism and the population increase and the internal and overseas contacts, the spread of Janism and Buddhism contributed to the cultural transition from the Iron Age to the Early Historic period. Moreover, Iron technology alone was not responsible for cultural transition, and it was just one supporting factor.

 

15.Conclusions

 

In this chapter, we have attempted to understand the changes noticed in the material culture from the Iron Age to the Early Historic in South India and the agencies and processes that contributed to the change. The arrival of new script (Brahmi), emergence of a political system, rise of urban centres, arrival of Buddhism and Jainism and Long Distance/overseas trade and exchange contributed to the developments in the early historic period in South India.

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Web links

  • http://www.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/southindia/
  • http://archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/iron-ore
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edicts_of_Ashoka
  • http://ignca.nic.in/mausam/Mausam_Paper_Prof_Bopearachichi.pdf
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangam_literature

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