•   It was an ancient dynasty of South India, existing since at least 3^rd centuries BCE.

•   The dynasty passed through two periods of imperial dominance, the 6^th to 10^th centuries CE, and under the 'Later Pandyas' (13^th to 14^th centuries CE).

•   It was among the three great kingdoms of Tamilakam, the other two being the Cholas and the Cheras.

•   The Pandyas ruled extensive territories, at times including regions of present-day South India and northern Sri Lanka.

•   The early Pandya rulers ruled their country (Pandya Nadu) from the ancient period, which included the inland city of Madurai and the southern port of Korka.

•   The Pandyas are mentioned in:

o  Earliest available Tamil poetry (Sangam literature").

o  Graeco-Roman accounts (as early as 4^th century BCE),

o  Edicts of Maurya emperor Ashoka,

o  Coins with legends in Tamil-Brahmi script, and

o  Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.

•   From the 6^th century to the 9^th century CE, the Chalukyas of Badami, Rashtrakutas of the Deccan, Pallavas of Kanchi, and Pandyas of Madurai dominated the politics of south India.

•   The Pandyas fell into decline with the rise of the Cholas of Thanjavur in the 9^th century and were in constant conflict with the latter.

•   The legendary Sangams (‘the Academies’) were held in Madurai under the patronage of the Pandyas, and some of the Pandya rulers claimed to be poets themselves.

•   Pandyan Administration:

o  Territory of Pandyas is known as Pandymandalam, Thenmandalam, or Pandianadu.

o  It was divided into Valanadus > Nadus > Kurrams (meaning group of villages).

o  Brahmin settlements with irrigation facilities known as Mangalam or Chaturvedi Mangalam were established.

o  Uttaramantri was the name of the Prime Minister.

o  Royal secretariat was called Eluttu Mandapam.

o  The affairs of a village were the responsibility of its elders, who were not elected but were recognized and appointed based on their age and status in society.

o  Ambalam and Manram were two institution of judicial, administrative and financial functioning in village.