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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Ancient History

Lecture – 16
Mahajanapada
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Mahajanapada
Mahajanapada (600 BC):
Mahajanapada is divided into three parts:
❖ Rise of Mahajanapada:
➢ Under Mahajanapada, we have to cover:
✓ Process of Rise, and
✓ Basics of all Mahahajanapada
❖ Rise of Magadha:
➢ Under Magadha, we have to cover all three dynasties such as:
✓ Haryanka Dynasty
✓ Shishunaga Dynasty
✓ Nanda dynasty
❖ Rise of Jainism, Buddhism, and Ajivika
Mahajanapada:
❖ Jana (1500-1000 BC):
➢ Jana refers to both sedentary communities and nomadic tribes, with an economy centered around the
use of animals.
❖ Janapada (1000-500 BC):
➢ Jana were unified into Jana and Pada, where Jana stood for the tribe and Pada was associated with the
land.
➢ The economy was based on Agriculture.
❖ Mahajanapada (600 BC):
➢ Around 600 BC there were few changes noticed:
✓ In the 600 BC timeframe, notable developments emerged, including the adoption of iron in
agricultural practices and the introduction of innovative techniques for cultivating wet paddy
fields.
✓ Around 600 BC, there was also the rise of a new form of religious outlook like Jainism, and
Buddhism.
✓ The heightened utilization of iron in agriculture, along with the implementation of innovative
techniques for cultivating wet paddy fields, not only resulted in a significant increase in
production but also facilitated surplus trade. The surplus generated from trade was subsequently
invested.
➢ Due to trade and surplus production, the growth of population was seen and followed by the emergence
of cities, and as janapadas came together, they eventually became known as Mahajanapadas.
➢ The Mahajanapadas (16) were ancient Indian states that emerged during the sixth century BCE. They
can be broadly categorized into two types:
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✓ Republic
✓ Monarchy
➢ Republic could not continue, but there were four powerful Monarchy:
✓ Koshal
✓ Avanti
✓ Magadha
✓ Vatsa
➢ Ultimately, Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada, with Bimbisar (600 BC) initiating
its imperial legacy. The culmination of this ascendancy came under the rule of Ashoka around 300
BCE, who served as the final influential leader of Magadha.
➢ According to Angutranikaya (Buddhist Text), there were 16 Mahajanapada during the time of Buddha.
➢ It extended from the North to the Vindhya region and spanned from the west to the east.
➢ The Mahajanapadas were like:
❖ Anga ❖ Kuru ❖ Magadha
❖ Avanti ❖ Kamboj ❖ Panchala
❖ Assaka ❖ Lichchhavi ❖ Sursena
❖ Chedi ❖ Malla ❖ Vijji
❖ Gandhara ❖ Matsya ❖ Vatsa
❖ Kashi ❖ Kosala
(Note: During the time of Buddha, there were 16 mahajanapadas over there, but we have got 17
because some of the mahajanapadas were in the form of confederacy.)
➢ In Magadh, three dynasties such as Haryanka, Shishunaga, and Nanda, and then we have got the
establishment of the Maurya dynasty.
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Note:
❖ In the Haryanka Dynasty, the first King was Bimbisar, the second was Ajatshatru, and the third one
was Udayin.
❖ In the Shishunaga Dynasty, the first King was Shishunag, and the second one was Kalashok.
❖ Mahapadamnanda ascended as the inaugural ruler in the Nanda Dynasty, succeeded by Dhanananda.
Chandragupta Maurya emerged victorious over Dhanananda, leading to the subsequent reigns of
Bindusara and Ashoka.

❖ Aspects: Discuss the circumstances/process in which the rise of Mahajanapadas was seen in 600 BC.
❖ As we know, between 1500 to 1000 BC Janas were there, and they were situated in land of seven rivers.
Their economy was based on animals. They used to roam here and there along with their animals. Jana
means movable tribe.
❖ Between 1500 to 500 BC Janas were unified into Janapada. Jana stood for the tribe and Pada was
associated with land, and their economy was based on Agriculture.
❖ In 600 BC, few changes were seen, and those were responsible for the rise of Mahajanapada.
❖ These changes were seen clearly in the northern Bihar region, which was out of the impact of Vedic culture.
➢ Iron usage began in the Vedic culture, marking the initiation of crafting implements and tools from this
metal.
➢ According to Shatpath Brahmin, a Vedic text, a large plough was made, and some ploughs were
pulled and tracked by 24 oxen. As a result, production was increased.
➢ New Technique of cultivation of wet paddy: Under this technique, the plantation of crops is used to
increase production.
➢ The rise of Jainism and Buddhism: These new religions were against animal killing. As a result,
Bovine and cattle power is used in the fields.
❖ The above three changes helped to increase production and production was in surplus mode, and surplus
production was invested in trade.
❖ Due to trade and surplus production, the population increased, and the rise of new cities such as Shravasti,
Champa, Vaishali, etc. Finally, Janapada came close and unified into Mahajanapada.
❖ During the time of Buddha, there were sixteen Mahajanapada (According to Anguttara Nikaya).
❖ These Mahajanapada were of two types Republic and Monarchy. Out of 16 Mahajanapadas, four were
very powerful like Kosala, Avanti, Magadha, and Vatsa. Later, Magadha emerged as the most powerful
of Mahajanapada.
❖ The empire-building process was started by Bimbisara in 600 BC and was completed by Ashoka in 300 BC.
❖ Aspect No. 2: What do you understand about the earliest republics of India or throw the light on main
republics of India and also discuss the causes of their failure.
❖ Aspect No 3: Discuss the causes of the rise of Magadha.
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Note:
Material From NCERT (R.S.Sharma):
❖ Anga:
➢ Anga Mahajanapada was situated in the east.
➢ Anga is now Modern Bhagalpur and Munger (Monghyr is an Ancient name).
➢ In the Mahabharata period, Karna was the king of Anga.
➢ During the period between 600 and 500 BC, there is historical evidence indicating the presence of a
population in the Anga region, which was subsequently annexed by Magadha.
❖ Magadha:
➢ It was the most powerful Mahajanapada, which was situated in Bihar (expanded in the region of
Patna, Gaya, Shahabad).
➢ Bimbisara was the first King of Magadha.
❖ Vajji:
➢ It was a republic/Clan of 8 groups or federation.
➢ Within the eight groups, the Lichchhavis held a particularly significant position, with Vaishali
serving as their capital.
➢ We do not have evidence of the city Vaishali before 600 BC.
❖ Kosala:
➢ It was situated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
➢ The capital of Kosala was Shravasti (Near to Ayodhya).
➢ It was also the most important and powerful Mahajanapada.
➢ Kosala, annexed the Kashi.
➢ The Kapilvastu republic was also in Kosala.
❖ Kashi:
➢ Kashi was situated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
➢ Kosala annexed the Kashi, and Kashi was a very rich Mahajanapada.
❖ Malla:
➢ It was situated near Vajji and Kosala.
➢ The capital of Malla was Kusinara, where Buddha died.
❖ Vatsa:
➢ Vatsa was situated in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
➢ It was a powerful Mahajanapada among four mahajanapada.
➢ Before 500 BC, there was no evidence of population.
❖ Panchal:
➢ It was situated in western UP, and also called Kuru Panchal.
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➢ During the Vedic and later Vedic periods, they held significant power, but by 600 BC, their influence
had diminished.
❖ Avanti:
➢ It was situated in the Malwa region.
➢ It was also important Mahajanapada and divided into two parts such as Northern Avanti and
Southern Avanti.
➢ The capital of Northern Avanti and Southern Avanti was Ujjayini and Mahishmati.
➢ Later Mahishmati annexed Ujjain, and Mahishmati was famous for Iron.

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