Early Cheras

Early Cheras was a state in Tamil south and Sri Lanka (South Asia) that lasted from c. 300 BCE to 300 CE, about 599 years. Its people spoke Dravidian languages (Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam).

Sangam-age kings of the Kerala coast and Kongu country, whose port of Muziris shipped pepper to Rome. The Patirruppattu anthology praises ten of their kings.

See Early Cheras on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 300 BCE to 300 CE

Duration

599 years

Type

State

Region

Tamil south and Sri Lanka, South Asia

Language family

Dravidian

Capital

Vanchi (Karur), Muziris (port)

Events in South Asia during its time

• 261 BCE Ashoka's Kalinga war
• 247 BCE Buddhism reaches Sri Lanka
• 127 Kanishka becomes Kushan emperor

Neighbours in South Asia

• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE
• Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE
• Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE
• Pallava dynasty c. 275 to 897 CE
• Western Satraps c. 35 to 415 CE
• Satavahana dynasty c. 100 BCE to 220 CE
• Vakataka dynasty c. 250 to 500 CE
• Indo-Greek Kingdom c. 200 BCE to 10 CE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom c. 256 to 120 BCE
• Shunga Empire 185 to 73 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE, Middle East
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE, Europe
• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE, Central and North Asia

Questions