The history of Tranquebar could be traced back to the beginning of the Common Era. Ancient Sangam classics like the Purananooru, Natrinai and Agananoorurefer to Poraiyar as a port town i.e.munturai. It continued to play an important role in the history of Tranquebar till 19^thcentury.

The earliest reference to Tarangambadi occurs in a 14 ^thcentury inscription, mentioning the place as SadanganpadialiasKulasekarapattinam. It was a commercial port attracting traders from different countries. The port has given access to inland trade from early times as it is situated on the mouth of Uppanaru.

The coramandal coast from Nangur to Nagapattinam, has been an active international commercial and cultural centre from about 3^rdcentury BCE. At the beginning of the 17 ^thcentury, many European countries like the British, the French, the Dutch and the Danes, vied with each other in establishing maritime trade with India and formed respectable East India companies. The Portuguese settled at Nagapattinam in 16^thcentury CE, also seems to have frequented the port of Tarangambadi.

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