Five Landforms

Unit 2

Five Landforms

Learning Objectives

● To know about different types of landforms in ancient Tamil Nadu.

● To know about the themes of classification.

● To understand the life style of people in different landforms of Tamil Nadu.

Introduction

● What is the name of your native place?

● In which district is your native place situated?

● What do you see around your house?

We see fields, houses, trees, stones and dry lands around our house. We see more things like this in our Earth.

1. Where would you see more hills on the Earth? Mountains

2. Where would you see wild animals with more trees? Forest

3. Where does the paddy grow? Agricultural land

4. Where would you see the Sea shore? Sea, Beach

5. What is the name of useless lands? Fallow land

The places we see on the surface of the Earth is called landforms.

Now let us see how the land was divided into different types in ancient Tamil Nadu according to its fertility and people's activities.

Physical Features & Landforms Of Tamil Nadu

In the Solar family, Earth is the third planet. It has oxygen and temperature to live. Therefore we call the Earth as Biosphere.

The Earth or the life sphere is surrounded by five elements of nature called land, water, air, fire and sky.

Land

Landforms of Tamil Nadu

● The five types of landforms in Sangam age were divided on the basis of the work done by the people.

● Out of the five thinais, only four types were permanent. They were Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham and Neithal. The fifth land Palai was formed when Kurinji and Mullai dried up.

I. Mountains (Kurinji Land)

A mountain is a large geographical area that rises above the surrounding land with peaks.

The mountain and its surroundings are known as Kurinji land.

1. The Theme

The Theme (Karupporul) deals with the god, people, occupation, plant, flower, animal, bird and musical instrument.

God: Murugan

People: Kuravar, Kurathiyar

Occupation: Hunting, Gathering Roots and Honey

Plant /Flower: Bamboo, Vengai/ Kurinji flower

Animal/Bird: Monkey, Deer/ Peacock, Parrot

Musical Instrument :Kurinji yazh

2. The People and their Occupations

● Poruppan – Soldier

● Verpan – Leader of the tribe, Weaponists

● Silamban – Master of martial arts (The arts of fighting) .

● Kuravar – Hunter and the Gatherer.

● Kanavar – People of the mountainous forest.

3. The Soil of Kurinji Land

● The land of Kurinji was composed of red and black soils with stones and pebbles.

DO YOU KNOW

Some important hills of Tamil Nadu

Kolli hills, Shervarayan hills, Kalrayan hills, Nilgiris hills,Javad hills, Yelagiri hills

Miraculous Flower-Kurinji

The miraculous Kurinji flower grows once in twelve years. The flower grows well in the Western Ghats. It flowers in the month of July to September. This flower has medicinal value.

II. Forest (Mullai Land) 

A large area covered by trees is called forest.

The forest region is referred as Mullai land. This region is also called 'Sembulam' due to the presence of red soil.

1. The Theme

God: Thirumal

People: Idaiyar, Idaichiyar, Aayar, Aaichiyar

Occupation: Cattle rearing, Gathering fruits, Sowing Millets

Plant / Flower: Guava/ Mullai flower

Animal/ Bird: Bear, Rabbit/ Parrot

Musical Instrument: Mullai yazh

2. The People and their Occupations

● Idaiyar - Milk seller.

● Aayar - Cattle rearer.

3. The Soil of Mullai land

● The land of Mullai has red soil with stones and pebbles.

Forests in Tamil Nadu

1. Mangrove forests – Pichavaram in Cuddalore district

2. Malai forests – Nilgiris district

3. Reserve forests – Kanyakumari district

4. Shola forests – Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts

Let us Know

Manufactured Products : Trees used to Produce

Paper : Bamboo, Thaila, Kudaivel

Safety match : Ayilai, Mul Ilavu

Fragrance oil : Sandle tree

Balm, Soap : Illupai, Neem, Pungam,

Pichavaram Forest

Pichavaram is a village near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, which is the second biggest mangrove forest in India. It comprises of small vegetation, aquatic animals etc. with moist temperature.

III. Field (Marutham Land) 

The vast flat land on the Earth is called plain. The crop fields and their surroundings were known as Marutham. (The agricultural land and the area around it).

1. The Theme

God: Indiran (Vendhan)

People: Uzhavar, Uzaththiyar

Occupation: Farming

Plant/Flower: Kanchi, Marutham / Lotus, Kuvalai

Animal/Bird: Buffalo / Crane

Music: Marutha yazh

2. The People and their Occupations

● Uran-Small Landlord

● Uzhavan-Farm worker

● Kadaiyar-Merchant

3. The Soil of Marutham land

● The land of Marutham is formed of alluvial soil and red soil.

Amazing fact

Kallanai is an ancient dam, which is built across the Cauvery river in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. Its length is 1,080 ft, width 66 ft and height 18 ft. It is the fourth oldest water diversion system for irrigation in the world.

IV. Sea / Sea shore (Neithal Land)

The salty water body that covers a large part of the surface of the Earth is called sea.

The Sea and the area around the sea is called 'Neithal'.

1. The Theme

God: Varunan ( Rain god )

People: Parathavar (Fisher man)

Occupation: Fishing

Plant / Flower: Punnai/ Kandhal

Animal / Bird: Fish/ Sea crow

Music: Vilari yazh

2. The People and their Occupations

● Serppan - Seafood vendor and trader.

● Pulamban - Who thrive on coconut.

● Parathavar - Sea warrior, Merchant.

● Nulaiyar - People who thrived on fish culture.

● Alavar - Salt cultivator.

3. The Soil of Neithal land

● The land of Neithal is made of saline soil.

Known Place, Unknown Fact

Marina beach is a natural urban beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu . It is the second longest beach in the world. The beach is situated in the eastern side of India along Bay of Bengal. The beach runs from Fort St. George in the north to Foreshore Estate in the south, The total distance of beach is 13 km.

( The first longest beach is Miyami beach, which is situated at Florida, America.)

V. Dry Land (Palai Land)

A dry region with less or without rainfall is called a dry land.

The sandy land, which under-goesdrought is called Palai.

When Kurinji and Mullai dries up, it is called Palai.

1. The Theme

God: Kottravai ( Mother Goddess )

People: Eyinar,Eyitriar

Occupation: Cattle lifting

Plant / Flower: Uzhinghai, Palai / Cactus, Iluppai

Animal / Bird: Tiger, Elephant / Eagle

Music: Palai yazh

2. The People and their Occupations

● Maravar - Noble warrior, Hunter.

● Eyinar - Warrior.

3. The Soil of Palai land

The land of Palai is sandy and saline.

Activity

1. With help of your teacher visit a nearby mountainous region and collect the herbs and know their uses.

2. "Trees are our friends". Do you accept? Discuss with group.