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Rise of the Mahajanpadas

In the sixth century B.C. the ancient Indian history witnessed the establishment of the
first territorial kingdoms and in the later phase it witnessed the urbanization and
development of Indian culture.
During this period of the ancient history 16 Mahajanpadas emerged between the
Himalayas and the Narmada River.

Mahajanapada Capital Present Location

Anga Champa East Bihar, India
Magadha Rajagriha later Pataliputra South Bihar
Vajji Vaisali North Bihar, India
Malla Kusinagar and Pavapuri Uttar Pradesh, India
Kasi Varanasi Benaras
Vatsa Kausambhi Allahabad
Kosala Shravasti Lucknow, India
Panchala Kampilya and Ahichhatra Rohilkhand
Kuru Hastinapur Delhi- Meerut
Matsya Virata Nagar Jaipur
Surasena Mathura Mathura
Chedi Sukthimathi Bundelkhand
Avanti Ujjani Madhya Pradesh
Asmaka Podana Maharashtra
Gandhara Taxila Pakistan
Kamboj Rajpur Kashmir

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The Mahajanpadas emerged due to the extensive use of the Iron in the parts of the Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar.
Due to the use of the iron the farmers started growing more and more products and the
extra product was collected by the king to meet the needs of the administration and the
army
In the Mahajanpadas the Sabha and the Samiti disappeared and the was overtaken by the
Parishad which consists of the small body of Brahmans
Each state maintained its regular army which was under the military chiefs who are known
as the Senapati and the other military officials.
The revenues were also collected and to ensure the strengthening the administrative
controls new legal codes were made and implemented. This period also saw the birth of
the bureaucracy

Rise of the Magadha

The Magadha rose to power after the sixth century B.C under the powerful king Bimbisara
Magadha was the resource rich region as the soil was fertile, food security, huge
population, big army, availability of elephants in large numbers etc.
The geographical location of the Magadha added the advantage of the Magadha over the
other rivals. The capital of the Magadha was Rajgir but later on it was transferred to
Patliputra(modern day Patna)
Bimbisara ruled over the Magadha between 544 to 492 B.C. Bimbisara was a very
intelligent ruler and who expanded his empire by diplomacy, matrimonial alliance and
conquest.
Firstly Bimbisara married with the Kosladevi in which he got the Kasi region as dowry from
which he earned high revenues. Secondly he was married with Chellana princess of the
Lichavi family which secured the northern frontier. He was also married with Khema who
was the princess of Madra in Madhya Pradesh.
Bimbisara was also a very able general as he himself led many expedition. He defeated
Brahmadatta of the Anga in Bengal
Bimbisara was a devotee of the both Vardhaman Mahavir and Gautam Buddha but it is
unclear as he was follower of which faith. He was murdered by his own son Ajatshatru in
the year 492 B.C
Bimbisara was succeeded by his son Ajatshatru who was also a very able general but
unlike Bimbisara he expanded the empire not by diplomacy but by conquest.
He was the follower of the Jainism but later on he embraced Buddhism after meeting
Gautam Buddha as some of the sources of the Ancient History says.
He organized the First Buddhist Council in the year 483 B.C at Saptaparni caves near
Rajgir in Bihar after the death of Gautam Buddha in order to propagate the Buddhism
He died in the year 460 B.C.
Ajatshatru was succeeded by Uday who transferred the capital of the Magadha from Rajgir
to Patliputra
After Uday the entire successors were very weak and finally they were defeated by
Shishunaga who was the minister of the Magadha Empire.
After Shishunaga he was succeeded by Kalasoka who organized the second Buddhist
Council in the year 363 B.C at Vaishali in Bihar.