Between 600 BC and 300 AD: - Many towns sprang up across India as agriculture intensified, though most people still lived in villages and cooperated on local projects. - Notable towns included Kushinagar and Rajgir. The Chola and Pandya dynasties ruled parts of Tamil Nadu and neighboring Kerala. - The Chola kingdom was centered around the Cholamandalam region, with its capital at Uraiyur, known for cotton trade. A 2nd century BC Chola ruler conquered Sri Lanka. - The Pandya kingdom covered parts of modern Tamil Nadu, with its capital at Madurai. Most Tamils were farmers living in villages or crafts

1. (600 B.C. TO 300 A.D.) Life in Towns And Villages Ahmed Ali Khan VI - B

2. The Second Urbanisation The first urbanisation in India began during the Harappan period. It came to an end with the advent of the Aryans in 1500 B.C. Being a rural folk, the Aryans destroyed the Harappan towns one by one, which remained extinct during the next 1000 years

3. Life in towns and villages Although a large number of towns had sprung up all over the country, the village life had not changed much. Villagers discussed their affairs in the open. They co-operated with one another to build roads, parks and public places. Villages were linked with one another by roads and waterways. Corn, cotton, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables were grown. Forced labour was not known at all.

4. Kushinagar

5. RAJGIR

6. AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION With the invention of new tools and implements more land was brought under cultivation which led to agricultural intensification .New varieties of corn and fruits began to be cultivated as a group.

7. CASE STUDY : TAMIL NADU In modern Tamil Nadu, between 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. the dynasties of the Cholas and the pandyas ruled over the neighbouring state of Kerala.

8. THE CHOLAS The Chola kingdom was situated between the pennar and the velur rivers and was popularly known as Cholamandalam. Its chief centre of political power was Uraiyur, a place famous for its cotton trade. In the 2 nd century B.C., a chola ruler, named Elara, conquered Sri Lanka and ruled there for about 50 years

9. THE PANDAYS The Pandya kingdom roughly included the modern districts of Tinnevelly, Ramnad and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. It had its capital at Madurai. The Pandays were first mentioned by Megasthenese and then in about the 3 rd century B.C. in the inscriptions of Ashoka. The Sangam literature also refers to the Pandya rulers.

10. Life of the people in Tamil Nadu under the cholas and the pasdyas Most of the people lived in villages and were farmers. Merchants, artisans and craftsmen mostly lived in towns. The people, living both in the villages and towns, were interested in amusements. The king, was assisted by a Council of ministers. The people mostly worshipped their old gods of whom murugum, was the supreme diety.

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