The excavations at Adichanallur, 24 km from Tirunelveli in the state of Tamil Nadu, points to settlements of people in the pre-historic times.The ancient period in Tamil Nadu is marked by the emergence of the four Tamil kingdoms of the Chera, Chola, Pandya and Pallavas. Apart from these dynasties, an obscure power named Kalabhras succeeded in displacing the three Tamil kingdoms between the fourth and the seventh centuries CE. The period is referred to as the Dark Age in the history of Tamil Nadu. The Kalabhras were later expelled by the Pallavas and the Pandyas.
The Pallavas who ruled Tamil Nadu were the contemporaries of the Rashtrakutas. The early history of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery, but Simhavishnu Avanisimha, who ascended the throne in about 575 AD, is considered to e the real founder of the Pallava dynasty. Mahendravarman I and his son Mamalla Narasimhavarman I were the great rulers of the Pallavas dynasty. Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas whose contribution to the Dravidian architecture was immense. The Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built by Narasimhavarman II.
Pallavas were followed by the Pandyas in the 8th century. With their capital Madurai, Pandyas were referred to as the richest kingdom by the famous traveller Marco Polo. The greatness of the Cholas as described by Asoka was restored by Vijayalaya, who began his rule in 850 AD. The greatest kings of the Chola Empire were Rajaraja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola. Mahipala, the pala king of Bengal was defeated by Rajendra Chola. To commemorate this victory he founded a new capital and called it Gangaikonda Cholapuram, identified with modern Gangakundapuram in Tiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu.
The Vijayanagara Empire which ruled over the entire Tamil Nadu was founded in 1336 by Harihara I and Bukka. This empire ruled for two centuries with the defeat of Vijayanagara forces in the Battle of Talikota against the Muslim forces of Deccan in 1565.
In 1968, Madras State became the state of Tamil Nadu.