Early Dravidian-speaking peoples

Early Dravidian-speaking peoples appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Tamil south and Sri Lanka (South Asia) from c. 3200 to 1000 BCE, a span of more than 2,200 years. Its people spoke Dravidian languages (Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam).

Foragers, herders and early farmers of the far south who probably spoke ancestral Dravidian languages, the root of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu.

See Early Dravidian-speaking peoples on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 3200 to 1000 BCE
Duration: more than 2,200 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Tamil south and Sri Lanka, South Asia
Language family: Dravidian

Events in South Asia during its time

2600 BCE Indus cities reach their height
1900 BCE Indus cities decline
1500 BCE Rigveda hymns composed
1000 BCE Iron spreads across the Ganges plain

Neighbours in South Asia

Kuru Kingdom c. 1200 to 500 BCE
Panchala c. 1100 to 350 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Minoan civilization c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, Europe
Shang dynasty c. 1600 to 1046 BCE, East Asia
Old Kingdom of Egypt c. 2686 to 2181 BCE, North and West Africa
New Kingdom of Egypt c. 1550 to 1069 BCE, North and West Africa
Old Babylonian Empire 1894 to 1595 BCE, Middle East
Hittite Empire (New Kingdom) c. 1400 to 1180 BCE, Middle East
Akkadian Empire c. 2334 to 2154 BCE, Middle East

Questions

When did Early Dravidian-speaking peoples exist?

c. 3200 to 1000 BCE, about more than 2,200 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Early Dravidian-speaking peoples?

Tamil south and Sri Lanka, in South Asia.

What language did Early Dravidian-speaking peoples speak?

Dravidian. This family includes Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam.