Earliest States and Mahajanapadas| Class 12 History Notes

Earliest States and Mahajanapadas is a subpart of the Class 12 History Chapter 2 “Kings, Farmers and Towns”. It gives us a detailed view of the Earliest States and Mahajanapadas of ancient India. The Mahajapadas were the early states of India. There were first 16 states were located in the north and east sides of India.

In this article, we are going to discuss the subparts Earliest States and Mahajanapadas of the Class 12 History Chapter 2 “Kings, Farmers and Towns” in detail.

The Earliest States

The Sixteen Mahajanapadas

The sixth century BCE marked a significant period in early Indian history, characterized by the emergence of states, cities, the widespread use of iron, and the development of coinage. It was also a time of diverse philosophical thought, including the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. Early Buddhist and Jaina texts mention sixteen states known as mahajanapadas, with names like Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara, and Avanti being prominent.

While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some were governed as oligarchies known as ganas or sanghas, where power was shared among several individuals called rajas. Both Mahavira and the Buddha belonged to such ganas. Some of these states, like the Vajji sangha, possibly had collective control over resources such as land and endured for nearly a millennium.

Each mahajanapada had a fortified capital city, and maintaining these cities and supporting nascent armies and bureaucracies required resources. From around the sixth century BCE onwards, Brahmanas composed Sanskrit texts known as the Dharmasutras, which laid down norms for rulers, ideally expected to be Kshatriyas. Rulers were advised to collect taxes and tribute from various sectors of society, including cultivators, traders, and artisans. While it’s unclear if resources were also obtained from pastoralists and forest-dwelling communities, raids on neighboring states were considered a legitimate means of acquiring wealth. Over time, some states developed standing armies and regular bureaucracies, while others relied on militias recruited from the peasantry.

First Amongst the Sixteen: Magadha

Between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE, Magadha emerged as the most powerful mahajanapada, with present-day Bihar as its location. Historians offer various explanations for this rise. Firstly, Magadha was blessed with fertile agricultural land, particularly conducive to productive farming. Additionally, the region had access to iron mines in present-day Jharkhand, providing essential resources for tools and weapons. The abundance of elephants in the forests of Magadha contributed to the strength of its army. Moreover, the presence of the Ganga River and its tributaries facilitated easy and inexpensive communication.

However, early Buddhist and Jaina texts attribute Magadha’s power to the policies of ambitious rulers and their ministers. Kings like Bimbisara, Ajatasattu, and Mahapadma Nanda, along with their ministers, implemented strategic policies that contributed to Magadha’s dominance.

Initially, Rajagaha, known as present-day Rajgir in Bihar, served as the capital of Magadha. Interestingly, the name Rajagaha means “house of the king” in Prakrit. Rajagaha was a fortified settlement nestled among hills. However, in the fourth century BCE, the capital was relocated to Pataliputra, present-day Patna, strategically positioned along the routes of communication along the Ganga River.

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Earliest States and Mahajanapadas- FAQs

What are the earliest Mahajanapadas?

The 16 Mahajanapadas were Magadha, Anga, Kashi, Kosala, Avanti, Vatsa, Gandhara, Kamboja, Chedi, Vajji, Malla, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, and Assaka. The Mahajanapadas were known for their rich cultural heritage, military prowess, and economic prosperity.

What were the causes of rise of 16 Mahajanapadas?

Socio-economic developments chiefly due to the use of iron tools in agriculture and military, along with religious and political developments led to the rise of the Mahajanapadas from small kingdoms or Janapadas.

What are the two features of Mahajanapadas?

Mahajanapadas were forms of early states and were mostly ruled by kings. However there were oligarchy also known as Gana and Sanghas, where group of people shared power and were collectively known as Rajas. 2. Mahajanapadas had its own capital and it was fortified.

Which was the most powerful Mahajanapada?

Rivers like Ganga and Son flowed through Magadha and this resulted in ample water supplies, water transport and fertile land. Some parts of Magadha were forested and elephants in forests could be trained for army.

What are the two types of Mahajanapadas?

The two types of mahajanapadas were republic and monarchy. Vajji, Malla, Kuru and Kamboja were the ganatantras (republic) states while all other states Anga, Vatsa, Gandhara, Matsya, Kashi, Anti, Shursena and Chedi had monarchy governments.

Who was the founder of the Mahajanapadas?

The empire was established by king Brihadratha. Rajgaha (or Rajgir) was the capital of Magadha but was later shifted to Pataliputra in the fourth century BCE. Iron was used to manufacture tools and weapons. The elephants found in its forests were used in the army.

What are the three features of Mahajanapadas?

The Mahajanapadas, meaning “great kingdoms” or “great countries,” were ancient Indian territorial and political entities that emerged around the 6th century BCE. These were powerful states characterized by urbanization, centralized governance, and economic prosperity.