The Sangam Age is associated with which region of India?
a) Northern India
b) Eastern India
c) Western India
d) Southern India ✅ Explanation: The Sangam Age refers to early Tamil history in South India.
The word ‘Sangam’ refers to:
a) Temple
b) Assembly ✅
c) King
d) Poem Explanation: Sangam was an assembly of Tamil poets and scholars.
How many Sangams are traditionally believed to have been held?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three ✅
d) Four Explanation: Tradition speaks of three Sangams.
Which Sangam is historically proven?
a) First
b) Second
c) Third ✅
d) None Explanation: Only the Third Sangam in Madurai is historically attested.
The capital of the Pandyas during the Sangam Age was:
a) Kanchi
b) Madurai ✅
c) Uraiyur
d) Puhar Explanation: Madurai was the cultural and political center.
Which dynasty ruled from Uraiyur?
a) Cheras
b) Cholas ✅
c) Pandyas
d) Pallavas Explanation: Uraiyur was the Chola capital.
The Cheras ruled over present-day:
a) Karnataka
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Kerala ✅
d) Tamil Nadu Explanation: They ruled the western coastal region.
Which port was associated with the Cheras?
a) Kaveripattinam
b) Tondi ✅
c) Puhar
d) Uraiyur Explanation: Tondi and Musiri were key Chera ports.
The famous Tamil epic Silappatikaram was written by:
a) Ilango Adigal ✅
b) Tiruvalluvar
c) Avvaiyar
d) Kapilar Explanation: Ilango Adigal was a Jain monk.
The story of Silappatikaram centers on:
a) War
b) Trade
c) A woman’s chastity ✅
d) Agriculture Explanation: The main character, Kannagi, proves her husband’s innocence.
Which Sangam epic features the hero Kovalan?
a) Manimekalai
b) Silappatikaram ✅
c) Tirukkural
d) Tolkappiyam Explanation: Kovalan is the tragic hero of Silappatikaram.
The famous Tamil grammar text from Sangam Age is:
a) Tirukkural
b) Silappatikaram
c) Manimekalai
d) Tolkappiyam ✅ Explanation: Written by Tolkappiyar.
Tolkappiyam deals with:
a) Music
b) Dance
c) Grammar and poetics ✅
d) Astronomy Explanation: It is the oldest Tamil grammar work.
Tiruvalluvar is associated with which literary work?
a) Tolkappiyam
b) Tirukkural ✅
c) Manimekalai
d) Naladiyar Explanation: A collection of ethical couplets.
The Sangam literature was composed in which language?
a) Sanskrit
b) Pali
c) Tamil ✅
d) Prakrit Explanation: It’s classical Tamil literature.
Avvaiyar was a:
a) Queen
b) Poetess ✅
c) Merchant
d) Warrior Explanation: Avvaiyar was a noted woman poet.
Which Sangam port was known for overseas trade?
a) Uraiyur
b) Puhar ✅
c) Tondi
d) Madurai Explanation: Also called Kaveripattinam.
The Sangam Age saw trade with which foreign region?
a) China
b) Rome ✅
c) Africa
d) Arabia Explanation: Roman coins have been found in Tamil Nadu.
The famous Roman author who mentioned Tamilakam is:
a) Pliny ✅
b) Socrates
c) Plato
d) Herodotus Explanation: He mentioned ports and trade in his writings.
The chief deity of Sangam people was:
a) Vishnu
b) Murugan ✅
c) Brahma
d) Shiva Explanation: Murugan was worshipped as a war god.
🟡 MODERATE (21–40)
The Sangam poem Purananuru deals with:
a) Love
b) Morality
c) War and public life ✅
d) Grammar
The economic life in Sangam Age was mainly:
a) Pastoral
b) Agricultural ✅
c) Industrial
d) Nomadic
Which flower is associated with the Cheras?
a) Lily
b) Lotus
c) Palmyra
d) Bow and arrow ✅ Explanation: Cheras used the bow as their symbol.
Sangam polity was mostly:
a) Theocratic
b) Democratic
c) Monarchic ✅
d) Oligarchic
Which king wore the title ‘Vanavaramban’?
a) Chola
b) Pandya ✅
c) Chera
d) Pallava
What was Velir in Sangam Age?
a) Priests
b) Traders
c) Minor chieftains ✅
d) Farmers
Which of the following is not a Sangam text?
a) Ettuthogai
b) Pattuppattu
c) Silappatikaram
d) Arthashastra ✅ Explanation: Arthashastra is a Mauryan text.
Manimekalai was written by:
a) Sattanar ✅
b) Ilango
c) Kapilar
d) Avvaiyar
Manimekalai promotes the philosophy of:
a) Buddhism ✅
b) Jainism
c) Shaivism
d) Vaishnavism
Which was the unit of currency in the Sangam Age?
a) Pana ✅
b) Dinar
c) Varaha
d) Dam
The term Karikalan is associated with which dynasty?
a) Pandya
b) Chera
c) Chola ✅
d) Satavahana Explanation: Karikala was a famous early Chola king.
Which king built a dam across the Kaveri River?
a) Nedunchezhiyan
b) Senguttuvan
c) Karikalan ✅
d) Ilango
Which dynasty had the emblem of the fish?
a) Chola
b) Pandya ✅
c) Chera
d) Pallava
What is Aham in Sangam poetry?
a) External life
b) Love and personal emotions ✅
c) War
d) Politics
What is Puram in Sangam literature?
a) Love
b) Grammar
c) External/public life ✅
d) Drama
Which dynasty is associated with the red and white umbrella symbol?
a) Chera ✅
b) Chola
c) Pandya
d) Pallava
The term Thinai in Sangam poetry refers to:
a) Rulers
b) Landscape themes ✅
c) Currency
d) Religion
Which is not a landscape in Sangam literature?
a) Kurinji
b) Mullai
c) Marudam
d) Vindhya ✅ Explanation: Vindhya is a mountain, not a literary theme.
What was Kaveripattinam known for?
a) Temples
b) Universities
c) Port trade ✅
d) Inscriptions
Which goddess is praised in Sangam texts?
a) Lakshmi
b) Kannagi ✅
c) Saraswati
d) Parvati
🔴 HARD (41–50)
Which Chera king is credited with sending an embassy to China?
a) Senguttuvan ✅
b) Nedunchezhiyan
c) Ilamchetchenni
d) Karikalan
Senguttuvan is associated with which epic event?
a) Kannagi’s trial
b) Installation of Pattini cult ✅
c) Burning of Madurai
d) Battle of Venni
The concept of ‘Pattini’ worship is linked to:
a) Hinduism
b) Buddhism
c) Jainism
d) A Tamil folk tradition ✅
What does Tirukkural primarily deal with?
a) Grammar
b) Politics
c) Ethics ✅
d) Warfare
Which Sangam text deals with war and politics?
a) Ainkurunuru
b) Purananuru ✅
c) Kurunthogai
d) Paripadal
Who was the patron of Avvaiyar?
a) Senguttuvan
b) Karikalan ✅
c) Nedunchezhiyan
d) Ilango
Which foreign artifact is commonly found in Sangam sites?
a) Chinese coins
b) Greek vases
c) Roman coins ✅
d) Persian seals
Which Sangam text is an anthology of 10 idylls?
a) Pattuppattu ✅
b) Ettuthogai
c) Ainkurunuru
d) Tirukkural
Which city is said to have submerged due to the sea?
a) Uraiyur
b) Puhar ✅
c) Kanchi
d) Madurai
Which river is frequently mentioned in Sangam literature?
a) Ganga
b) Yamuna
c) Kaveri ✅
d) Krishna