Mahajanapadas

Mahajanapadas: About 2500 years ago, some Janapadas became more important than others, and were known as mahajanapadas. A mahajanapadas was usually ruled from its capital city.There was intense rivalry among the Mahajanapads,resulting in frequent wars. Huge walls made of mud, stone, wood or bricks were used to fortify these capital cities. Most mahajanapadas had a capital city, many of these were fortified. This means that huge walls of wood, brick or store were built around them.

Forts were probably built because people were afraid of attacks from other kings and needed protection. It is also likely that some rulers wanted to show how rich and powerful they were by building really large, tall and impressive walls around their cities. Also in this way, the land and the people living inside the fortified area could be controlled more easily by the king.

The new rajas now began maintaining armies; soldiers were paid regular salaries and maintained by the king throughout the year. Some payments were probably made using punch marked coins

According to the Buddhist texts Anguttara Nikaya and Digha Nikaya, by around 600 BC, there 16 mahajanapadas. Of these, Magadh emerged the most powerful of all. The other powerful mahajanapadas were Avanti. Vatsa and Kosala.

These were the following domestic conditions in the Mahajanapadas:

Agriculture : Agriculture prospered in most of the Mahajanapadas as they were located in fertile areas.Many canals andd wells were dug to improve irrigation.The farmers learnt to use manure.

Rise of cities: The production of surplus crops allowed some people to specialise in crafts such as metal working,carpentry and pot making. The exchange of surplus crops and goods manufactured by the craftsmen led to the development trade.Cities grew around centers of craft,trade and administration.

Administration : The Mahajanapadas were mostly monarchies.The king maintained a large, well equipped and regularly paid army during war and peace.The King often gave tax-free villages to the Brahmins.

Revenue : Tax collectors collected taxes in the form of money or in any other kind. A share of one-sixth of the agriculture produce had to be given as tax.The revenue collected was spent on paying salaries to the people in Administration ,on public works and on maintaining the standing army.

Social organization : caste rigidities increased strict rules that governed each caste. Intermarriage and interdining between the castes were not allowed .The trades and crafts of the shernis became hereditary.

Trade: Good roads encouraged trade,even over long distances. Overseas trade also gained importance. Earlier ,trading was done through barter system .Money in the form of punch marked coins came into use and copper and silver began to be used in trade.

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

Which of the following cities/regions were not mahajanapadas ? A. Kosala B. Ujjain C. Gandhara D. Magadha
A. A and B		B. B
C. B and D		D. C and D
Right Option : B
View Explanation