The social order among speakers of Dravidian…

The social order among speakers of Dravidian languages is based on different ecoregions rather than on the Aryan varna paradigm, although the Brahmans had a high status at a very early stage.

Segments of society are characterized by matriarchy and matrilineal succession—which will survive well into the nineteenth century—cross-cousin marriage, and strong regional identity.

Tribal chieftains emerge as "kings" just as people move from pastoralism toward agriculture, sustained by irrigation based on rivers, small-scale tanks (as man-made ponds are called in India) and wells, and brisk maritime trade with Rome and Southeast Asia.