Mention three salient features of mahajanapadas
Answers
The sixth century BCE is often regarded as a major turning point of early Indian History. It
is an era associated with early states, cities, the growing use of iron and the development
of coinage. Buddhist and Jaina texts mention sixteen states known as mahajanapadas.
The most important mahajanapadas were Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala,
Gandhara and Avanti. Salient features of mahajanapadas were
Most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings. Some known as ganas or sanghas were
oligarchies where power was shared by several chiefs called rajas. The rajas probably
collectively controlled resources such as land.
Each mahajanapada had a capital city which was often fortified. Maintaining these
fortified cities and providing for incipient armies and bureaucracies required resources.