Question

E . Answer the following questions in one or two words/sentences. 1.What were the powerful states in the Later Vedic period called? 2.How many mahajanapadas are mentioned in the religious texts of the 6th century BCE? 3. Name the most powerful kingdom in ancient India (4th century BCE). 4. What is the Indo-Greek school of art known as? 5. Name the Mauryan ruler who unified India politically.​

Answer 1

Answer:

The Mahājanapadas (Sanskrit: great realm, from maha, "great", and janapada "foothold of a people") were sixteen kingdoms or oligarchic republics that existed in Northern ancient India from the sixth to fourth centuries BCE during the second urbanisation period.[2]

Mahājanapadas

c. 600 BCE–c. 345 BCE

Map of the 16 Mahājanapadas.[1]

Map of the 16 Mahājanapadas.[1]

Capital

Various

Common languages

Prakrits and Sanskrit

Religion

Brahmanism

Śramaṇa (Buddhism and Jainism)

Government

Republics (Gaṇa sangha)

Monarchies

Historical era

Iron Age

• Established

c. 600 BCE

• Disestablished

c. 345 BCE

Preceded by Succeeded by

Painted Grey Ware culture

Vedic period

Janapada

Kuru Kingdom

Nanda Empire

Map depicting Kingdoms of Ancient India in 540 BCE

The 6th–5th centuries BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in early Indian history; during this period India's first large cities arose after the demise of the Indus Valley Civilization. It was also the time of the rise of sramana movements (including Buddhism and Jainism), which challenged the religious orthodoxy of the Vedic Period.

Two of the Mahājanapadas were most probably ganatantras (oligarchic republics) and others had forms of monarchy. Ancient Buddhist texts like the Anguttara Nikaya[3] make frequent reference to sixteen great kingdoms and republics which had developed and flourished in a belt stretching from Gandhara in the northwest to Anga in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. They included parts of the trans-Vindhyan region,[4] and all had developed prior to the rise of Buddhism in India.[5]

Archaeologically, this period has been identified as corresponding in part to the Northern Black Polished Ware culture.[6]