Early Pandyas

Early Pandyas was a state in Tamil south and Sri Lanka (South Asia) that lasted from c. 300 BCE to 250 CE, about 549 years. Its people spoke Dravidian languages (Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam).

The Sangam-age kings of Madurai who, by tradition, hosted the Tamil literary academies. Megasthenes and later Roman writers knew them for pearls from the Gulf of Mannar.

See Early Pandyas on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 300 BCE to 250 CE
Duration: 549 years
Type: State
Region: Tamil south and Sri Lanka, South Asia
Language family: Dravidian
Capital: Madurai

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
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
Early Cholas c. 300 BCE to 300 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

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
Ptolemaic Kingdom 305 to 30 BCE, North and West Africa

Questions

When did Early Pandyas exist?

c. 300 BCE to 250 CE, about 549 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Early Pandyas?

Tamil south and Sri Lanka, in South Asia. Its capital was Madurai.

What language did Early Pandyas speak?

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