what is a Janapada and a mahajanapada?
Answers
Surplus agricultural production and economic prosperity led to a settled life for the early Indians. As land became important, each clan claimed a particular territory to be its own, and started naming the are after its ruling clan. this led to the rise of janapadas, the earliest kingdoms. the term 'janapada' means 'the place were the jana or people set its foot'.
subsequently, some janapadas became more powerful than others and were called mahajanapadas. the sixteen mahajanapadas were - Magadha, Avanti, Kosala,Vatsa, kuru, Malla, Chedi, Kashi, Anga, Vajji, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Asmaka, Kamboja, and Gandhara.
The term janapada composed of janas means “people” or “subject” and pada “foot”. Janapada's were the earliest gathering places of men, merchants, artisans and craftsmen akin to marketplace or town surrounded by hamlets and villages. Later, Janapadas became the major realms republics or kingdoms of Vedic India