Tamil Nadu boasts a history that dates back to prehistoric times, with archaeological evidence suggesting human habitation for hundreds of thousands of years. Its ancient history is defined by the Sangam period (c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE), a golden age of Tamil literature, arts, and trade, dominated by three great dynasties: the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas. These empires traded extensively with the Roman Empire, Southeast Asia, and China.
From the 4th to the 9th centuries CE, the Pallava dynasty rose to prominence in the north, leaving behind the magnificent rock-cut architecture of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. The Cholas subsequently regained power in the 9th century, creating a vast maritime empire under leaders like Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I, who built the monumental Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. Following the decline of these classical dynasties, the region saw the influence of the Vijayanagara Empire and the Nayaks of Madurai.
In the 17th century, European colonial powers arrived, culminating in the establishment of the British East India Company's outpost at Madras (now Chennai) in 1639. The Madras Presidency became a massive administrative region under the British Raj. Following India's independence in 1947, the Madras State was formed, later reorganized on linguistic lines in 1956. The Dravidian political movement gained massive momentum in the mid-20th century, advocating for linguistic pride and social justice, which led to the state being officially renamed Tamil Nadu ("Tamil Country") in 1969.