The beginning of the historical period, c. 500–150 bce

Question 1

Pre-Mauryan states

Answer 1

• 16 major states (mahajanapada) dominating the northern part of the subcontinent

Question 2

Location

Answer 2

• Gandhara lay astride the Indus and included the districts of Peshawar and the lower Swat and Kābul valleys.
• major role as the channel of communication with Iran and Central Asia continued, as did its trade in woolen goods.
• The Kekayas, Madras, and Ushinaras, who had settled in the region between Gandhara and the Beas River, were described as descendants of the Anu tribe.
• The mid-Ganges valley was dominated by Kashi and Koshala.

Question 3

Political systems

Answer 3

• The political system in these states was either monarchical or a type of representative government that variously has been called republican or oligarchic.
• oligarchies comprised either a single clan or a confederacy of clans.
• most important institution was the sovereign general assembly, or parishad, to the meetings of which members were summoned by kettledrum
• broad authority of the parishad included the election of important functionaries
• stabilized agrarian economy

Question 4

Economy

Answer 4

• Silver bent bar coins and silver and copper punch-marked coins came into use in the 5th century bce
• One main trade route followed the Ganges River and crossed the Indo-Gangetic watershed and the Punjab to Taxila and beyond. Another extended from the Ganges valley via Ujjain and the Narmada valley to the western coast or, alternatively, southward to the Deccan.
• The expansion of trade and consequently of towns resulted in an increase in the number of artisans and merchants; some eventually formed guilds (shrenis), each of which tended to inhabit a particular part of a town

Question 5

Religion

Answer 5

• Jainism and Buddhism, acquired the status of major religions. The former remained within the Indian subcontinent; the latter spread to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
• Both religions were founded in the 6th–5th century bce
• Monastic orders (the sangha) were introduced with monasteries organized on democratic lines and initially accepting persons from all strata of life.
• both religions disapproved in theory of the inequality of castes, neither directly attacked the assumptions of caste society
• patronage of women, especially those of royal families, was to become a noticeable feature.