evidence: The Sangam age constitutes an important chapter in the history of South India. Towards the end of the first millennium BCE, history of South India moved from pre-history to history. Literary Ashokan records reflected contemporary events. The advent of the early historic period in South India is generally dated to the 3rd Century BCE. Inscriptions refer to the people of South India as Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas and Satiyaputras-the crucible of the culture of Tamilakam. Tamilakam is the home of the Tamils-the land where Tamil was the language. The geographical limits of Tamilakam were Vengadam (i.e, the Tirupati Hills) in the north, Kumari in the south and the sea on the east and west. Kumari is said to refer, not to Cape Comorin, but to a river of that name, now lost in the Indian Ocean. This region comprised of the modern territories of Kerala, Tamilnadu and the Union territory of Pondicherry.