CONTENTS: Introduction: This Jasmine Country, 1. Emergence BOOK I THE AGE OF POETRY: 2. Literature as History, 3. Of Heroes and Kings, 4. Life of the Times, BOOK II THE AGE OF EMPIRE: THE PALLAVAS: 5. Lions of the Earth, 6. Kanchipuram: A Confluence of Cultures, 7. Divine Origins and Earthly Arrangements, 8. The Citadels of Faith, THE PANDYAS: 9. Madurai and the Acme of Pandya Culture, 10. No Faintness in Their Hearts, 11. Enterprise and Opulence: Aspects of Pandya Society, 12. Abnegation, Devotion, and Faith, THE CHOLAS: 13. The Tiger Crest: The Great Chola Monarchy, 14. The Facets and Functions of Chola Society, 15. Reaching the Sky: An Imperial Vision, 16. Pinnacles of Artistic Vision, 17. The Spires of Faith, 18. The Cheras: The Emporium of India, BOOK III THE AGE OF TRANSITION: 19. Turmoil and Tumult: The Madurai Sultans and the Vijayanagar Kings, 20. The Nayaks in Tamil Country, 21. The Grand Marathas of Thanjavur, 22. Tamil by Birth, Muslim by Faith, BOOK IV THE AGE OF THE EUROPEANS: 23. The Merchants of Colonization, 24. Christendom in Tamilakam, 25. From Company to Empire, BOOK V THE AGE OF FREEDOM: 26. Revolt, Rebellion, and the Road to Freedom, 27. A Society in Flux, 28. Chennai That Was Madras, 29. Awakenings and Transformations: The Freedom Struggle and the Dravidian Movement, 30. An Unprecedented Freedom, 31. A Progressive and Paradoxical State, Eppilogue: The Tamil in Us, Acknowledgements, Image Credits, Notes, Bibliography, Index.