How did magadha become the most important mahajanapada?
Answers
Magadha was the most powerful of all Mahajanapads. Its location near Ganga river and Son river ensured fertility of soil.
Their location was excellent. Magadha was surrounded by beautiful hills, on which most of their military could be stationed. It had abundant natural resources. Thus, prosperity was sure to exist.
Chanakya, the brilliant strategist, economist and the guru of Chandragupta Maurya, was born in Magadha only.
The kings of Magadha maintained a very powerful military. It was Magadha only, whose army’s tales of victories and their giant size evaporated the courage of Alexander’s army. Infact, Magadha had the strongest standing army at that time, with 200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8000 chariots and 6000 war elephants.
Magadha started coming into prominence from 600 BCE onwards.
Several centuries later, Mughals conquered it, but by then Magadha had long lost its eminence.