[2] Southern South Asia was a hub of global trade in ancient times because of its position in the important Indian Ocean corridor.

[9][10] Governments throughout Southern South Asia adopted Sanskrit for public political expression beginning around 300 CE and ending around 1300, resulting in greater integration into the broader South Asian cultural sphere.

[15][16][17] Chola innovations include various techniques for water resource management,[18] some of which are used today to restore lakes throughout India.

[19] During British rule, Madras (now Chennai) became the center of the region, and a stability was created that benefitted Tamils throughout the region; Tamils were also favoured by the British in Sri Lanka over the Sinhalese people of the island.

This laid the foundation for resentment and later ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka which lasted for decades.