Mahajanapadas

Question 1

Emergence

Answer 1

By 6th century BC, use of iron widespread leading to clearing of forests over Gangetic plains and large settlements.

Use of iron tools lead to growth of agriculture and warfare.

New Agrarian economy, settlements, surplus production, army: Janapadas.

These were named after their rulers: Panchala, Kosala, Kashi, Surasena, Videha, etc.

Either kingdoms or republics/ganasanghas.

Kshatriya/non-kshatriya rulers.

Increase in territory led to them becoming Mahajanapadas (16). Most powerful were Magadha, Avanti, Kosala, Vatsa, etc.

Located to the North of Vindhya region to the NW frontier of Bihar.

1st powerful kingdoms of India. And constantly fought with each other.

Question 2

16 Mahajanapadas

Answer 2

Kashi: most powerful. Famous for cotton textiles and horse markets. Capital: Kashi. Modern day UP

Kosala: popular king: prasenjit (contemporary of Buddha). Cap: Shravasti. Modern day: UP.

Anga: centre of trade and commerce. Annexed by Bimbisara in mid 6th century BC. Capital: champa. Modern day Bihar.

Vajji: confederacy of 8 clans of whom videha was most famous, whose capital was Mithila. Cap of Vajji: vaishali. Modern day: UP and Nepal

Malla: Buddha died here in kushinagar. Magadha annexed it after Buddha’s death. Cap: Kushinagar and pava. UP.

Chedi: eastern parts of bundelkhand. Originator of the Kalinga kingdom. Capital: suktamati. Modern day up + mp.

Vatsa: around allahabad. Most powerful king: Udayin. Cap: kaushambi. Modern day: UP.

Kuru: in meerut, Delhi and thaneshwar. Ruled by a chieftain called, Kaurayva around Buddha’s time. Cap: Indraprastha and Hastinapur.

Panchala: located in rohilkhand and central doab. Cap: Ahichchatra and kampilya. Modern day: UP.

Matsya: in Rajasthan. Sujata ruled over both chedis and matsyas. Cap: Viratnagar.

Surasena: republic. Avantipura, the king was one of the first disciples of Buddha. Cap: Mathura. Modern: UP.

Asmaka: on the bank of R. Godavari. Southernmost Mahajanapada. Ruled by ikshvaku kshatriyas. Capital: pratisthan/paithan. Modern day Telangana.

Avanti: ujjain, mp. Most powerful king was Chanda pradyota. Capital: mahismati and ujjain.

Gandhara: education and learning traditions. Panini and kautilya were alumnus of Taxila University at gandhara. Capital: Taxila. Modern day Pakistan.

Kamboja: republic. Stated in arthashastra and Ashoka’s edict xiii. Capital: rajapura. Modern day J&K.

Magadha: imperialism started here. Founders jarasandha and brihadratha. Real foundation laid by Bimbisara and ajatashatru. Cap: rajagriha and Pataliputra. Region: Bihar.

Question 3

Smaller Janapadas/Republics in the 6th century AD:

Answer 3

Panchala, Kamboja, Kuru, Malla, Vajji (Mahajanapadas)
Bhaggad (UP)
Kaliya, Nepal)
Moriya (Foothills of Himalayas)
Shakya (Indo-Nepal border)
Lichchhavi (N. Bihar)
Kalama (Bihar)
Butis (Bihar)

Question 4

Important Dynasties

Answer 4

1. Haryanka
2. Shishunag
3. Nanda

Question 5

Haryanka Dynasty

Answer 5

1st to rule Magadha.
Founded by Bimbisara

Bimbisara (544-492BC):
Contemporary of Buddha.
Increased geographical coverage + power of Magadha.
Matrimonial alliances.

Ajatashatru (492-460BC):
Killed his father to become ruler of Magadha.
Didn’t believe in matrimonial alliances.
1st Buddhist council in Rajgriha weeks after Buddha’s death.

Udayin (460-444BC):
Son of Ajatashatru.
Weak ruler.
Built fort at Pataliputra. Moved capital to Pataliputra from Rajgriha.

Question 6

Shishunag Dynasty:

Answer 6

Shishunag (412-394BC):
Officer of Udayin, replaced him.
During his reign, Magadha became the sole super Mahajanapada.

Kalashoka (394-366BC):
Shifted capital from Vaishali to Pataliputra.
2nd Buddhist council happened in his reign.

Question 7

Nanda Dynasty

Answer 7

Replaced the Shishunags.
1st Indian Empire.
Defeated Kalinga and brought image of Jina as a victory trophy.
Prominent ruler, Mahapadmananda, who stopped Alexander’s proceeds towards the East.
Last ruler, Dhanananda was usurped by Chandragupta Maurya.

Question 8

Causes of Rise of Magadha

Answer 8

Ambitious rulers
Strategic location of capitals
Fertile alluvial soil
Natural resources like iron
Rise of towns due to usage of money led to development of trade and commerce.
Use of elephants in warfare.

Question 9

Foreign Invasions

Answer 9

4th century BC
Greek and Iranian invasions

Question 10

Iranian/Persian Invasion

Answer 10

By Achaemenian rulers of Iran took advantage of the political disunity on the NW frontier.

Its effects:

Introduction of Aramaic and then Kharoshthi.
Indo-Iranian trade.
Opening up of Indus and Arabian sea trade route by water.
Fusion of Persian art with Mauryan architecture+ art.

Question 11

Greek Invasion

Answer 11

4th Century BC
Fight over world domination between Iran and Greece.
Greece conquered Asia Minor, Iraq and even Iran. Wanted India, too. Came here through the Khyber Pass and slowly conquered the major principalities one by one. Two of the rulers of these were Ambhi (Taxila) and Porus (region between Chenab and Jhelum).

Ambhi surrendered soon enough.

Battle of Hydaspes: Between Alexander the Great and King Porus (326BC) on the banks of Jhelum. Porus surrendered to Alexander. He made Porus the Viceroy to the king (his satraps).

Its effects:
Opened trade routes between NW India, Western Asia and Europe
Greek art influenced architecture (for example, Ashokan pillars).
Many Greek scholars came to India to study history
Helped expansion of Mauryan empire in NW India.