Mahajanpadas & Rise of Magadh
Mahajanpadas
In the later Vedic period, the tribal organisations changed its identity and gradually shifted to the territorial identity, and the area of settlement were now regarded as janapadas or states. In transition
from tribe to monarchy, they lost the essential democratic pattern of the tribe but retained the idea of government through an essential democratic pattern of the tribe but retained the idea of government through an assembly representing the tribes. These states consisted of either a single tribe such as the Shakyas, Kolias, Mallas etc. or a confederacy of tribes such as the Vrijjis, Yadavas, Panchala etc. The people in the lower Ganges Valley and Delta, which were outside the Aryan pale, were regarded as Mlecchas. There was, therefore, a strong consciousness of the pure land of the Aryans called Aryavarta.
According to Anguttara Nikaya, there were about sixteen Mahajanpadas in the sixth century BC. Their capital and locations are given in a table on the 16 Mahajanapadas.
Rise of Magadha
The Haryankas: Magadha came into prominence under the leadership of Bimbisara (542-493 BC), who belonged to the Haryanka dynasty. He look three wives. His first wife was the daughter of the king of. His second wife Chellana was a Lichchhavi Princess from Vaishali, and his third wife was the daughter of the chief of the Madra clan of Punjab.
Marriage relations with the different princely families gave enormous diplomatic prestige and paved the way for the expansion of Magadha wastward and northward. The earliest capital of Magadha was at Rajgir, which was called Girivraja at that time. It was surrounded by five hills, the openings in which were closed by stone walls on all sides. This made Rajgir impregnable.
Bimbisar was succeeded by his son Ajatshatru (492-460 BC). Ajatshatru killed his father and seized the throne for himself. Throughout his reign, he pursued an aggressive policy of expansion.
Ajatshatru was succeeded by Udayin (460-444 BC). His reign is important because he built the fort upon the confluence of Ganga and son at Patna. This was done because Patna lay in the centre of the Magadhan Kingdom.
The Sisunagas: Udayin was succeeded by the dynasty of Sisunagas, who temorarily shifted the capital to Vaishali. Their greatest achievement was the destruction of the power of Avanti with its capital at Ujjain. This brought to an end the 100 years old rivalry between Magadha and Avanti.
The Nandas: The Sisunagas were succeeded by the Nandas, who proved to be the most powerful rulers of Magadha. So great was their power that Alexander, who invaded Punjab at that time, did not dare to move towards the east. The Nandas added to the Magadhan power by conquering Kalinga from wher they brought an image of the Jina as a victory trophy. All this took place in the reign of Mahapadma Nanda. He claimed to be ekarat, the sole sovereign who destroyed all the other ruling princes.
The Nandas were the first non-kshtriya rulers. The last Nanda ruler was defeated by Chandragupta Maurya who founded the Maurya Empire.
Causes for the Rise of Magadha
1- Advantageous geographical location with both Rajgir and Patliputra situated at strategic locations.
2- Abundance of natural resources, such as iron, enabled Magadhan rulers to equip with effective weapons.
3- The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plains and sufficient rainfall were very conductive for agriculture produce.
4- Rise of town and use of metallic money boosted trade and commerce. The princes could levy tolls and accumulate wealth to pay and maintain their army.
5- Use of elephants on a large scale in wars.
6- Unorthodox character of Magadhan society.
7-Contribution of several enterprising and ambitious rulers.
Iranian Invasion
- In 560 B.C. Darius sent a naval expedition to explore the valley of the river Indus.
- The province of the Indus Valley was annexed by him by.as is mentioned in his inscription.
- He divided the province in 20th straphy, which was considered to be the richest and the most populous province of the persian empire.
Its annual tribute amounted to 360 Euboic talents of gold-dust.
- The Kharoshthi script was used on the north-west frontier since then uptil about 4th century A.D.
Effects of Persian Invasion
- Introduction into India the Aramic form of writing, which later developed into the Kharoshthi alphabet.
- Promotion to Indo-Iranian trade.
- Geographical exploration of the Indus and the Arabian Sea, leading to opening of a new water route.
- Fusion of Iranian/Persian features in the Mauryan art.
- Impact of Buddhism on the Zoroastrian religion of ancient Persia.
Alexander Invasion.
- Alexander marched to India through the Khyber Pass in 326 B.C.
- He was bravely checked by the local chieftains despite the fact that they had no chance of success.
- He was even checked by the queens of the vanquished and dead chiefs.
- His advance was checked on the bank of the Beas because of the mutiny of his sodiers.
- In 325 B.C. he began his homeward journey.
- In 324 B.C.,he reached Susa in Persia and died the next year.
- The Greek invasion of India opened the trade the route between the north-west India and Western Asia.
- Eastwards tradewent through the Ganga delta to the coast of Northern Burma and South along the East coast.
- Guilds (Shreni) come into existence.
- Money was introduced . Punch-Marked coins in Gold and Silver and of Copper cast have been discovered.
- Introduction of money facilitated the trade.
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