write a short note on mahajanapadas
Answers
Explanation:
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 Nikayamake 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,and all had developed prior to the rise of Buddhism in India.
Archaeologically, this period has been identified as corresponding in part to the Northern Black Polished Ware culture.
Explanation:
In the sixth century BCE, there was a rise in the development of a few kingdoms that became prominent and earned the name Mahajanapada or great country. They extended from north western Pakistan to eastern Bihar and from mountainous regions of Himalayas to the river Godavari in the south.
Aryans were the most influential tribes and were called as ‘janas’. This gave rise to the term janapada where jana means ‘people’ and pada means ‘foot. Janapada were the major kingdoms of Vedic India. A new kind of socio-political development was taking place in Mahajanapada. Mahajanapada were located in distinct geographical zones. There were 16 Mahajanpadas during 600 B.C. to 300 B.C.in Indian sub-continents.
Their names were:
• Anga
• Assaka
• Avanti
• Chedi
• Gandhara
• Kamboja
• Kasha
• Kosala
• Kuru
• Magadha
• Malla
• Matsya
• Panchala
• Surasena
• Vajji
• Vatsya