Economic activities during the post-Mauryan period:

(i) During the post-Mauryan period, people were engaged in various economic activities such as agriculture, crafts and trade.

(ii) Paddy was the most important crop. It formed the main part of people’s diet and also served as a medium of barter exchange for inland trade.

(iii) In Tamil region, there were no perennial rivers, so the chief, wherever possible, encouraged agricultural activities by making tanks and dams.

(iv) The Chola king Karikala of the Sangam age constructed a dam on the river Kaveri. It is considered to be the earliest dam in the country.

(v) Among the crafts, the most important was spinning and weaving of textiles-cotton as well as silk.

(vi) Salt manufacture was another important activity.

(vii) The most important feature of the Sangam economy was flourishing trade with the Roman world. A large number of Roman gold coins have been recovered from the regions of south India. 

(viii) The discovery of monsoons and the use of direct sea route between Indian coasts and the western world was the main reason for the growth of this trade. It led to the rise of important towns and craft centres in the Tamil region.

(ix) Vanji (present day Karur in Tamil Nadu) was the capital of the Cheras. It was an important centre of trade and craft.

(x) Muzris, i.e., Cranganore on the south-west coast, was the foremost port of the Cheras. The Roman ships laden with gold used to come here to take back large amounts of pepper.

(xi) Madurai, which was the capital of the Pandyas, was a large city enclosed by a wall. It was an important centre of fine textile and ivory working.

(xii) Korkai of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu was an important Pandya port. It was famous for its pearls.

(xiii) Uraiyur, the capital of the Cholas, was a grand city with magnificent buildings.

(xiv) Kaveripattinam or Puhar was the main Chola port.