History Notes Chapter 6 Class 6 Maharashtra Board

Janapadas and Mahajanapadas

Janapadas

• The period from 1000 BCE to 600 BCE is called the post-Vedic period.
• Janapadas were small states in ancient India.
• These states stretched from Afghanistan in the northwest to Bengal and Odisha in the east and Maharashtra in the south.
• The janapada Ashmak was in present-day Maharashtra.
• Some janapadas were monarchies (ruled by kings), while others were republics (ruled by assemblies).
• The ruling assembly in republics was called gana-parishad, which met at a place called santhagar.
• Gautama Buddha was from the Shakya Republic.
• Each janapada had its own coins.

2. Mahajanapadas

• Over time, some janapadas became more powerful and bigger and were called mahajanapadas.
• By the 6th century BCE, there were 16 important mahajanapadas.
• The four most powerful mahajanapadas were:
• Kosala (Uttar Pradesh and Nepal)
  • Capital: Shravasti
  • Important king: Prasenjit (contemporary of Buddha and Mahavir)
  • Later merged with Magadha.
• Vatsa (Prayag/Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh)
  • Capital: Kaushambi
  • A famous trade center.
  • Important king: Udayana
  • Conquered by Avanti.
• Avanti (Malwa, Madhya Pradesh)
  • Capital: Ujjain
  • A major trade center.
  • Important king: Pradyot
  • Later merged with Magadha.
• Magadha (Bihar and Bengal)
  • Capital: Rajgriha (Rajgir)
  • Important king: Bimbisara (built a great palace, followed Buddha).
  • Later became the Magadha Empire.

3. Rise of the Magadha Empire

• Bimbisara’s son, Ajatshatru, continued expanding Magadha.
• He conquered many republics and followed Buddha.
• The first Buddhist Council was held in Rajgriha under him.
• He started a new capital, Pataligram, which later became Pataliputra (modern Patna).
• King Shishunag merged Avanti, Kosala, and Vatsa into Magadha.
• The Nanda Dynasty (364 BCE – 324 BCE):
  • Created a strong administrative system.
  • Had a four-column army (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants).
  • Introduced standard weights and measures.
  • Last king: Dhananand.
  • Overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya, who started the Maurya Empire.

The 16 Mahajanapadas and their modern names:

1. Kashi – Varanasi
2. Kosala – Lucknow
3. Malla – Gorakhpur
4. Vatsa – Allahabad
5. Chedi – Kanpur
6. Kuru – Delhi
7. Panchal – Rohilkhand
8. Matsya – Jaipur
9. Shurasen – Mathura
10. Ashmak – Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
11. Avanti – Ujjain
12. Ang – East Bihar
13. Magadha – South Bihar
14. Vrijji – North Bihar
15. Gandhara – Peshawar
16. Kamboj – Near Gandhara