were the seas, which may explain their omission from the ancient definition. The ancient Tamilakam thus included the present-day Kerala. However, it excluded the present-day Tamil-inhabited territory in the North-East of Sri Lanka. Subdivisions Kingdoms Approximately during the period between 600 BCE to 300 CE, Tamiḻakam was ruled by the three Tamil dynasties: the Chola dynasty, the Pandyan dynasty and the Chera dynasty. There were also a few independent chieftains, the Velirs (Satyaputra). The earliest datable references to the Tamil kingdoms are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE during the time of the Maurya Empire. The Pandyan dynasty ruled parts of South India until the late 17th century. The heartland of the Pandyas was the fertile valley of the Vaigai River. They initially ruled their country from Korkai, a seaport on the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved to Madurai. The Chola dynasty ruled from before the Sangam period (~3rd century BCE) until the 13th century in central Tamil Nadu. The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of the Kaveri. The Chera dynasty ruled from before the Sangam period (~3rd century) until the 12th century over an area corresponding to modern-day western Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Vealirs (Vēḷir) were minor dynastic kings and aristocratic chieftains in Tamiḻakam in the early historic period of South India. Nations of Tamilakam Tamiḻakam was divided into political regions called Perunadu or "Great country", "nadu" means country. There were three important political regions which were Chera Nadu, Chola Nadu and Pandya Nadu. Along these three there were two more political regions of Athiyaman Nadu (Sathyaputha) and Thamirabharani Nadu (Then Paandi) which were later on absorbed into Chera resp. Pandya Nadu by 3rd century BCE. Tondai Nadu which was under Chola Nadu, later emerged as independent Pallava Nadu by 6th century CE. Again Tamilakam were divided into 13 socio-geographical regions called Nadu or "country". Each of this Nadu had their own dialect of Tamil. Thenpandi Nadu Panri Nadu Kuda Nadu Punal Nadu Puzhi Nadu Venadu Aruva Nadu Kakkanadu Kuttanadu Aruva Vadathalai Nadu Sida Nadu Erumai Nadu Malai Nadu Tulu Nadu Nations outside Tamilakam Some other Nadus are also mentioned in Tamil literature which were not part of Tamilakam, but the countries traded with them in ancient times. Tamil speaking lands: Eela Nadu (Eelam) Naga Nadu or Yazh Kuthanadu (Jaffna Peninsula) Vanni Nadu (Vanni region) Other: Vengi Nadu