The oldest literary works of South Asia date back to 300 B.C are collectively referred to as ‘Sangam Literature.’ It was written in Tamil by an academy of scholars, men, and women from all classes. These academies of Scholars met in Madurai over three Sangams and derived these works, unique to Indian Literature. The theme of prose and poetry was revolved around Love (akam), and Heroism(puram), filled with praises of Chola, Chera, and Pandya Kings and Rulers.
Sangam Literature based on literary and foreign evidence is as old as 300 B.C.Greek authors such as Megasthenes, Strabo, Pliny, and Ptolemy mention the commercial contacts between
the west and the south of India.The Ashokan inscriptions on the Chera, Chola and Pandya rulers in the southern Mauryan Empire. The Hathigumpha inscription from Kharavela of Kalinga also mentions the Tamil kingdoms. These works provide knowledge on early Tamil culture and trade relations between South India and the Mediterranean, Western Asia, and Southeast Asia. The non-religious nature of Sangam Literature in that time and space is unique to Indian Literature, which was almost entirely religious at that time. It is the oldest surviving piece of Tamil Literature with ramifications even today. The Bhakti movement led by the Vaishnava priests or Nayanar and Shiva priests or Alvars took inspiration from Sangam themes of Love and Heroism.
The Tolkappiyam, a book of grammar and rhetoric, and eight anthologies (Ettuttokai) of poetry were compiled—Ainkurunuru, Kuruntokai, Narrinai, Akananuru, Kalittokai, Patirruppattu, Purananuru, and Paripatal. A ninth anthology, Pattupattu, consists of 10 idylls that present a picture of early Tamil life. These works were simple depictions of life experiences of love, and heroism in that time and space.
Many of the poems, especially those on heroism, display great freshness and power and are exceptionally disengaged from the literary ideas of many other early and medieval Indian works of literature. Moreover, because they deal almost exclusively with non-religious themes, these poems lack the complex mythical allusions that are such a prominent feature of most Indian art forms. However, there are some examples of religious works in Sangam poetry. Perinatal, for example, contains poems about Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, and Murugan.
There is much information available in the Sangam literature to understand the position of women in the Sangam era. 4,444 women were respected and allowed to engage in intellectual activities. There were poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar who flourished and contributed to Tamil literature. Women were able to choose their partners. But the life of the widows was miserable. It is also mentioned that the practice of Sati is predominant in the upper classes of society. The Sangam period slowly saw its decline towards the end of AD 300. The Kalabhras occupied the Tamil Post-Sangam period between AD 300 and AD 600. The period to which previous historians refer to as the Interregnum or "Dark Age".