History
History - Mahajanapadas
History notes is helpful in UPSC exams, RRB NTPC exams, SSC CGL exams, Bank exams and more. This is part of UPSC syllabus etc.
Mahajanapadas evolved from Janapadas in 6th century BCE. The Janas, a tribe according to Vedic Samhitas were initially pastoral and semi-nomadic. Gradually the Janas established territories and formed military. The Janas later formed political units known as Janapadas. All these developments and use of agriculture and iron tools transformed Janapadas to Mahajanapadas, great Kingdoms. There are 16 Mahajanapadas
Some Mahajanapadas are republics (ganasanghas) but most of them are monarchical. In a ganasangha King was elected with a council to assist. This was oligarchic system of governance.
Sixteen Mahajanapadas
Anga: It was situated at the confluence of Ganga and Champa rivers with its capital as Champa. The present day location is Munger and Bhagalpur. It was a commercial centre. Its present day location encompasses West Bengal and Bihar. Mahabharata and Atharva Veda mentions this place
Assaka or Asmaka: The capital was Potali/Podana. It was located at the bank of river Godavari
Avanti: Its capital was located at Ujjain or Mahismati. It is in present day Madhya Pradesh and Malwa
Chedi: The capital was Sothivati. It is in the present day Bundelkhand region. This was mentioned in Rig Veda
Gandhara: The capital was Taxila. It is in present day Rawalpindi. It is mentioned in Atharva Veda. It was international commerce centre.
Kamboja: The capital was Poonch. It is in present day Kashmir and Hindukush
Kasi: Its location was around Varanasi. Its capital was Kasi. Matsya Purana mentions the name Kasi derived from the rivers Varuna and Asi. Its present day location is Banaras
Kosala: The capital of Kosala was Shravasti. It is located in modern Awadh (Uttar Pradesh)
Kuru: The capital was Indraprastha. It is in present day Meerut and Haryana.
Magadha: It was situated close to Anga separated by river Champa. Its capital was Girivraja/Rajagriha. It is in the present day Bihar. Modern location is Gaya and Patna. The first Buddhist council was held in Rajagriha. Magadha became a centre for Jainism
Malla: The capital was Kusinara. It is in present day Uttar Pradesh and Deoria. It was a republic. It is mentioned in Mahabharata
Matsya: Its capital was Viratanagara. It is in present day Jaipur
Panchala: The capital was Ahichchatra/Kampilaya. Initially it was monarchical, but later became a republic. It was in present day Uttar Pradesh
Surasena: The capital was Mathura. It is in present day Uttar Pradesh
Vajji: The capital was Vaishali. It is in the present day Bihar
Vatsa (Vamsa): It was located on the banks of Yamuna. Its capital was Kausambi. Trade and business flourished here. It has monarchical form of Government. The present day location is Allahabad