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Mahajanapadas
Quest for UPSC CSE Panels

22-07-2023 GS-I

Sub-Categories: GS-I: Ancient History 23 min read

What are Mahajanapadas?

What factors lead to the creation of

Mahajanapadas?

What made Magadha the most powerful

Mahajanapada?

What were the features of Mahajanapadas?

Art & Architecture

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What is the significance of the Mahajanpadas

with regard to early Indian History?

What were the causes of decline of

Mahajanapadas?

Prelims: History of India

Mains: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of

Arts forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times

What are Mahajanapadas?

Mahajanapadas were ancient kingdoms or republics that
emerged in northern India during the 6th century BCE. The
term "Mahajanapadas" literally means "great kingdoms" or
"great states".

Geographical location: There were 16

Mahajanapadas in total, which were said to have
been located in the region roughly corresponding to
primarily present-day Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Type of Mahajanpadas: Two kinds of states are

included in the list of Mahajanapadas - monarchies
(Rajyas) and non-monarchical states known as
Ganas or Sanghas.

Source of information: The Anguttara Nikaya is a

Buddhist scripture that belongs to the Sutta Pitaka.
It provides valuable insight into the social, political,
and economic conditions that existed in ancient
India during the time period.
Other sources:
Mahavastu- A Buddhist work

Bhagavati Sutra- A Jaina work, it

gives a widely different list of the

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sixteen Mahajanapadas which

includes Vanga and Malaya.

Table: Sixteen Mahajanapadas

16 Mahajanapada

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What factors lead to the creation of

Mahajanapadas?
The Later Vedic period (900 BCE–600 BCE) witnessed the
transition from a tribal polity based on lineage to a territorial
state.

Settlement of tribes: The Janas, who migrated

eastwards, began to settle down in various regions.
The loyalty of the people shifted from Jana (tribe or
clan) to Janapada (territory).

New agricultural tools: The new agricultural tools

and implements enabled the peasants to produce
far more food grains than they required for
consumption.

The king was the sovereign ruler: He also levied

taxes out of agricultural surplus and redistributed it,
and ensured the maintenance of law and order in a
hierarchical society by force and coercion.

Transition from Janpada to Mahajanapadas:

Meaning: Janapada literally meant ‘the place
where the tribe sets its foot upon.’ The
janapadas fought with one another for
resources and political dominance.

Political rivalry: Some janapadas extended

their territories and brought various Janas
within their jurisdiction. Such janapadas
grew into Mahajanapadas.

The Mahajanapadas represented the

emergence of territorial kingdoms that ruled
over people (Jana).

The king headed the government aided by a

centralised administration.

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Map of Mahajanapadas

What made Magadha the most Latest Post

powerful Mahajanapada?
Indian Army
The following various factors combined to make Magadha Day
the most powerful and prosperous Mahajanapada.

Natural boundaries: Astra Missile

It was bounded by the Ganga, Son, and
Champa rivers on the north, west, and east,
respectively, and the Vindhyan spurs on the What is
south. This was important for transport, Genetic…
water supplies and making the land fertile.

What is
Punganur…

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Its earlier capital was surrounded by five Key Facts

hills, which helped to provide natural
about…
fortification.

Transportation: It provided an easy means of

transportation for goods and people
For example, the city of Pataliputra (the
capital of Magadha) was located on the Himalayan
banks of the Ganges and was an important
centre of trade and commerce.
Wolf

Abundant natural resources:

Elephants, which lived in the forest, could be
captured and trained for the army.

Forests also provided wood for building

houses, carts and chariots. Announcements
Minerals: There were iron ore mines in the Admission Portal Link
region that could be tapped to make strong
tools and weapons. CSAT Course (New
Batch)
Rainfall: Sufficient rainfall and a perennial
supply of river water and fertile land caused Indian Forest Service
the rise in agricultural produce Free Interview…
Free Interview
Economic factors Guidance Program…
The strategic location of the Empire: It was
located on the central route between the CSAT Course at
West and East Indian subcontinent. This Chennai
enabled them to control trade and receive
heavy taxes. For Course Counselling
etc., you can now se…
Prosperity and Growth: With prosperity and
rise of the population led to an increase in
activities of agriculture, mining, building
cities and expanding the army.

It was positioned approximately between the

Vatsa and Anga.

Political factors
Prominent rulers extended the territory of
the Magadhan Empire through matrimonial
alliances and conquests.

Magadha had two very powerful rulers,

Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, who used all

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possible means to conquer other janapadas.

They maintained strong standing militaries.

What were the features of

Mahajanapadas?
The Mahajanapadas are classified as Gana-Sanghas and
chiefdoms based on the nature of their polity.

Administration:

The Mahajanapadas were ruled by kings who were

supported by a council of ministers.

The administration was divided into several

departments, such as finance, justice, and defence.

In the Mahajanapadas, the basic unit of settlement

was the Grama (village)

It used to be a mobile unit of people, and when two

gramas came together, it led to Sangrama

The leaders of the villages were called Gamini. The

Gamini are also referred to as soldiers, elephant and
horse trainers and stage managers.

The kingdoms had a well-defined system of

taxation to finance the administration.

Administration in Gana-Sanghas:
They had an oligarchical system of
governance.

The administration was run by an elected

king with the help of large councils or
assemblies comprising heads of all
important clans and families.

Society:

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The society was divided into various classes, such

as nobles, traders, farmers, and labourers.

The caste system was not yet fully developed

during this period.

Kassaka and ksetrika denoted the common

peasants who were generally of the Sudra jati.

Slavery was prevalent, and slaves were used for

various kinds of manual labour.

Marriage alliances were an important aspect of

inter-state relations but often became irrelevant
when it came to realising political ambitions.

Economy:

Agriculture was the main occupation of the people,

and the kingdoms were largely agrarian.

Trade and commerce flourished, and the kingdoms

had well-established trade routes.

Coinages: The kingdoms minted their own coins,

which were used for trade and commerce.
The coins were generally made of silver or
copper, and they were often stamped with
symbols and inscriptions that reflected the
political and cultural identity of the state.

The coins were known as punch-marked

coins because they were stamped with a
series of symbols and dots that were
punched into the metal.

Image- Punch Marked Coin

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Religion:

The Mahajanapadas were religiously diverse, and

people followed different religions, such as
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

The kings patronised different religions, and the

religious leaders had considerable influence over the
people.

Military:

The kingdoms had a well-organised army

composed of infantry, cavalry, and elephants.

The kings had their own personal armies, which

were loyal to them.

Wars were frequent, and the kingdoms often

engaged in conflicts with each other.

Art & Architecture

The Mahajanapadas developed a unique style of art
and architecture.

The kingdoms built impressive structures such as

stupas, temples, and palaces.

The art was characterised by intricate carvings and

sculptures, which reflected the cultural and religious
beliefs of the people.

What is the significance of the

Mahajanpadas with regard to early
Indian History?
The period witnessed the rise of powerful rulers who
expanded their territories, built cities and patronised the arts
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and sciences. It was also a time of significant social,

economic, and religious changes that would shape the
course of Indian history for centuries to come.

The emergence of territorial states: The

Mahajanapadas marked the beginning of the
emergence of large territorial states in ancient India,
governed by monarchies with well-defined
administrative systems.

Shift towards urbanisation: The rise of the

Mahajanapadas also led to a shift towards
urbanisation. Many of these states had capital cities
that were centres of trade, commerce, and culture.

Formation of political alliances: The

Mahajanapadas witnessed the formation of political
alliances between various kingdoms. These
alliances were sometimes formed to counter
external threats and, at other times, for mutual
benefit.

Development of trade and commerce: With the

emergence of large territorial states, trade and
commerce flourished. The establishment of new
trade routes and the construction of roads and
bridges facilitated the exchange of goods and
services.

Influence on later Indian history: The

Mahajanapadas had a profound influence on later
Indian history. Many of the political, social, and
economic structures that emerged during this period
continued to shape Indian society for centuries to
come.

What were the causes of decline of

Mahajanapadas?
The Mahajanapadas,lasted until the rise of the Mauryan
Empire in the 4th century BCE. There were several factors
that contributed to the decline of the Mahajanapadas:

Weak rulers: After the reign of Emperor Ashoka, the

Mauryan dynasty began to decline due to weak

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rulers who were unable to maintain the empire's vast

territories and were frequently challenged by
rebellions and invasions.

Economic factors: The Mauryan state relied heavily

on agriculture, and the productivity of the land
declined due to deforestation, soil exhaustion, and
the neglect of irrigation works. This led to food
shortages, famine, and economic hardship for the
people.

Foreign invasions: The Mauryan empire faced

frequent attacks from foreign invaders, such as the
Greeks under Alexander the Great and the Bactrian
Greeks. These invasions weakened the empire's
military and economic power.

Regional revolts: The people of the different regions

of the Mauryan empire, such as the Kalingas and the
Satavahanas, resented the centralised rule of
Magadha and rebelled against it. This weakened the
Mauryan state and made it vulnerable to external
attacks.

Succession disputes: The Mauryan empire faced

frequent succession disputes and civil wars, which
weakened the state and made it vulnerable to
external attacks and internal rebellion.

Early Indian Trade: Ag…

Ag…

Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

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Prelims

2016:

Q) Which one of the following books of ancient India

has the love story of the son of the founder of the
Sunga dynasty?

(a) Swapnavasavadatta

(b) Malavikagnimitra

(c) Meghadoota

(d) Ratnavali

2014:

Q) Which of the following Kingdoms were associated

with the life of the Buddha?

1. Avanti

2. Gandhara

3. Kosala

4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 4

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4

Frequently Asked Questions

(FAQs)

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Q) Who established the Haryanka dynasty?

Bimbisara, the son of King Bhattiya of Magadha,

established the Haryanka dynasty. He is believed to
have ruled from around 543 BCE to 491 BCE.

Q) What is meant by second urbanisation?

Agricultural surplus, the growth of crafts and trade,

and the growing population led to the emergence of
towns in the Gangetic plains. This is called the second
urbanisation in Indian history after the first
urbanisation evident in the Harappan Civilization.

Q) How did Varanasi get its name?

The kingdom of Kashi was bounded by the Varuna and

Asi rivers to the north and south respectively. It is from
the names of these two rivers that its capital city
Varanasi on the banks of the Ganga got its name.

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