Social Science : Term 1 Unit 2 : 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.
Evaluation
I. List out.
1. Write the names of the mountains and the places, where they are located in your district.
2. Write the names of trees around your school.
II. Find in the blanks.
1. The vast flat land on the Earth is called plain.
2. Kallanai is the fourth oldest water diversion system for irrigation in theworld.
3. Keeriparai Reserve forest is located in Kanyakumari district.
4. The agricultural land and the area around is called Marutham.
5. The Sundarbans is the biggest mangrove forest in India.
6. Marina beach is located in Chennai.
III. Match the following.
a)
1. Murugan-Mullai
2. Thirumal-Palai
3. Indiran-Kurinji
4. Varunan – Marutham
5. Kottravai-Neithal
Answer:
1. Murugan – Kurinji
2. Thirumal – Mullai
3. Indiran – Marutham
4. Varunan – Neithal
5. Kottravai – Palai
b)
1. God-Root gathering
2. Flower-Kuravar, Kurathiyar
3. People-Kurinji flower
4. Occupation-Murugan
Answer:
1. God – Murugan
2. Flower – Kurinji flower
3. People – Kuravar, Kurathiyar
4. Occupation – Root gathering
IV. Answer in short.
1. Name the people of five thinais.
1. Kurinji – Kuravar, Kurathiyar
2. Mullai – Idaiyar, Idachiyar, Aayar, Aaichiyar
3. Marutham – Uzhavargal
4. Neithal – Parathar
5. Palai – Maravar, Marathiyar, Eyinar, Eyitriar
2. List four themes of Mullai land.
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
3. What do you know about Sembulam?
A large area covered by trees is called forest. In Tamil Nadu, the forest region is referred as Mullai land. This region is also called ‘Sembulam’ due to the presence of red soil.
4. How the Polai (dry land) region is formed?
When Kurinji and Mullai dries up, it is called Palai.
5. What are the themes of Palai?
God: Kottravai ( Mother Goddess )
People: Maravar, Marathiyar, Eyinar, Eyitriar
Occupation: Cattle lifting, Robbery
Plant / Flower: Uzhinghai, Palai, Cactus, Iluppai
Animal / Bird: Tiger, Elephant/Eagle
Music: Palai yazh
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.