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Tamil Nadu which holds in itself a land, a language and a culture existed
since the prehistoric times. Human settlement here is said to have existed
cotemporary to the civilizations in other parts of world. They existed not as
isolated regions of human settlements but was connected through trade. Tamil
Nadu was earlier known as Tamilham. The existence of ports such as Arikamedu,
Karipattinam, Korkai ware proofs of the Tamilian advancement in establishing
relations with other regions of the world. The Tamilians were said to be of
Dravidian origin and they originally resided in the north west. With the advancement
of the Indo-Aryans the Dravidians were e pushed south. The Sangam literature is
the basis of Tamil History, culture and organisations from the 3rd century AD.
The Cholas , the Pallavas, the Pandyas and the Cheras had their influence on
Tamil Nadu and established their kingdoms. The Pallavas established their reign
at kanchipuram in about the 4th century Ad. They held power over the land of the
Tamils from 6th and 9th centuries. At the end of the 9th century the Cholas
established themselves they extended their empire and established contacts South
East Asia.
In the 13 the century the Pandyas dominated. The establishment of the Vijayanagar
empire brought the downfall of the  Pandyas. This empire ruled till the 16th
century preserving and promoting Hindu culture. The Muslim powers
influenced this region politically. The Marathas also influenced Madurai
and Thanjavur till the advent of the English who wrested power from the French.
During the 17th and the 18th centuries, conflicts between the trading companies
of Europe for control of the major parts in the east. The British managed to
control this region in the 19th century. This region was under the domain of the
East India Company and continued till independence after which the three states
of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa were formed. The region under the jurisdiction
of the Madras Presidency formed into a single unit and named Tamil Nadu in 1969.
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