www.gradeup.co www.gradeup.co Content 1. Bihar Specific General Knowledge: • History of Bihar • Geography of Bihar • Tourism in Bihar • Mineral & Energy Resources in Bihar • Industries in Bihar • Vegetation in Bihar • National Park & Wildlife Sanctuaries in Bihar • First in Bihar • Important Tribal Revolt in Bihar • Bihar Budget 2020-21 2. Indian History: • Ancient India • Medieval India • Modern India 3. Geography: 4. Environment: 5. Indian Polity & Constitution: 6. Indian Economy: 7. Physics: 8. Chemistry: 9. Biology: www.gradeup.co HISTORY OF BIHAR • The capital of Vajji was located at Vaishali. • It was considered the world’s first republic. Ancient History of Bihar Licchavi Clan STONE AGE SITES • It was the most powerful clan among the • Palaeolithic sites have been discovered in Vajji confederacy. Munger and Nalanda. • It was situated on the Northern Banks of • Mesolithic sites have been discovered from Ganga and Nepal Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Singhbhum and Santhal • Its capital was located at Vaishali. Pargana (all in Jharkhand) • Lord Mahavira was born at Kundagram in • Neolithic(2500 - 1500 B.C.) artefacts have Vaishali. His mother was a Licchavi princess been discovered from Chirand(Saran) and (sister of King Chetaka). Chechar(Vaishali) • They were later absorbed into the Magadh • Chalcolithic Age items have been discovered Empire by Ajatshatru of Haryanka dynasty. from Chirand(Saran), Chechar(Vaishali), • Later Gupta emperor Chandragupta married Champa(Bhagalpur) and Taradih(Gaya) Licchavi princess Kumaradevi. MAHAJANAPADAS Jnatrika Clan • In the Later Vedic Age, a number of small • Lord Mahavira belonged to this clan. His kingdoms emerged. 16 monarchies and father was the head of this clan. republics known as Mahajanapadas stretched Videha Clan across Indo-Gangetic plains. They are: • It is mentioned for the first time in Yajurveda. 1. Kasi 2. Kamboja • The kingdom was started by Ishkavaku’s son 3. Kosala 4. Gandhara Nimi Videh. • Mithijanak Videh established Mithila. 5. Anga 6. Avanti • Goddess Sita, daughter of King Janak, 7. Magadha 8. Assaka belonged to this clan. 9. Vajji (Vriji) 10. Surasena • Janakpur (now in Nepal) was the capital of 11. Malla 12. Matsya this kingdom. 13. Chedi 14. Panchala MAGADHA Kingdom 15. Vatsa (Vamsa) 16. Kuru • It is mentioned for the first time in • Three Mahajanapadas were in Bihar namely Atharvaveda. Magadha, Anga and Vajji. • It extended from the Ganga in the north to ANGA Kingdom Vindhyas in the south, Champa in the east to • It is mentioned for the first time in river Sone on the west. Atharvaveda. • Its capital was Girivraja or Rajgir which was • It comprised of present-day Khagaria, surrounded by hills on all sides by five hills. Bhagalpur, and Munger. • Later the capital was shifted to Patliputra. • It was situated to the north-east of Magadha • The Magadh Kingdom included Koshal, Empire. Vatsa, and Avanti. • Champa (in present-day Bhagalpur) was the • It played an important role in the capital. development of Buddhism and Jainism. o It was established by king • Two of India’s greatest empires, Maurya and Mahagovind. Gupta, emerged in Magadha. o It was also called Chenanpo (by Pre-Mauryan Dynasties under Magadha Empire Hiuen Tsang) and Malini. BRIHADRATH Dynasty VAJJI Kingdom • Brihadrath was the earliest known king • It consisted of eight clans. Magadha. He was the eldest son of Vasu, • Most important clans were - Licchavi, Kuru king of Chedi. Videha and Jnatrika. • His name has been mentioned Rigveda. • It was located in Northern India. www.gradeup.co • Jarasandha, son of Brihadrath was the most • Mahapadmananda established the dynasty famous king. after killing last Shishunaga ruler • Girivraja (Rajgir) was the capital under Nandivardhana. Jarasandh. • He was also described Mahapadmapati - • Prodyota dynasty succeeded the Brihadrath sovereign of an infinite host or of the dynasty in Magadha. immense wealth HARYANKA Dynasty - 544 B.C. to 492 B.C. • In Mahabodhivamsa, he was called Ugrasen. Bimbisara • Dhana Nanda was the last ruler of this • He founded the dynasty. He was a dynasty and was the contemporary contemporary of Buddha. Alexander. • He established his capital at Rajgir. MAURYAN Dynasty - 321 B.C. to 184 B.C. • He expanded his empire through matrimonial Chandragupta Maurya alliances e.g. Kosala • He founded the dynasty with the help of his • He was also the first ruler in history to form mentor Chanakya or Kautilya or Vishnugupt. permanent forces/army. • He was born as Mura to a Shudra woman in • He also sent royal physician Jivaka to Ujjain the court of Nanda. for treating Chanda Pradyota, King of Avanti, • In Mudra Rakshasa, he is also referred to as and his longtime rival who later became a Vrishala. friend. • As per Buddhist tradition, he belonged to the Ajatshatru Moriya Kshatriya clan. • He killed his father Bimbisara to become the • He fought Seleucus Nikator, a general of next ruler. Alexander in 305 B.C. He later sent • Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana and Megasthenese to Mauryan court. Lord Mahavira also attained Moksha during • Megasthenesess wrote Indica describing his reign. Mauryan administration. The empire was • First Buddhist Council (483 B.C.) was divided into four provinces, each under one conducted under his patronage at Rajgir. governor. According to him, Mauryan Udayin administration in Patliputra was under a • He also killed his father Ajatshatru to become council of 30 members divided into 6 the next ruler. committees of 5 members each. • He founded the city Patliputra at the • Patliputra has been referred to as Palibothra confluence of rivers Ganga and Sone and in Megasthenesess’ Indica. made it his capital. • Chanakya wrote, "It is considered a treatise SHISHUNAGA Dynasty - 412 B.C. to 344 B.C. on economics, politics, foreign affairs, Shishunaga administration, military, warfare and religion • He was the founder of the dynasty. He was a ever produced." viceroy of Banaras. Bindusara • During this time Magadha had two capitals - • He was also called by the name Amitrochates Rajgir and Vaishali by Greek writers, Mudrasar in Vayu Purana • He finally destroyed the resistance Avanti and Seemseri in Jaina text Rajvalli Katha. and brought to end to the 100-year rivalry. • Deimachus - Syrian ambassador sent by king Kalasoka Antiochus • He shifted his capital to Patliputra and it • Dionysius - sent by Ptolemy II of Egypt continued as the capital of Magadha Empire Ashoka onwards. • He came to power after killing 99 of his • Second Buddhist Council (383 B.C.) was brothers sparing only one, conducted under his patronage at Vaishali. • Kalinga War - 261 B.C. - it is mentioned in NANDA Dynasty - 344 B.C. to 321 B.C. Major Edict XIII. www.gradeup.co • After the Kalinga war, Ashoka embraced • His empire included Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Buddhism under influence of monk Pradesh Upagupta. He came to be known as • He married Licchavi princess, Kumaradevi. • Bhabru inscription - Ashoka is revealed as Gold coins were issued to commemorate this king of Magadha event. • Third Buddhist Council - 250 B.C. - was Samudragupta convened by Ashoka under the presidentship • Prayag inscription by Harisen was dedicated of Tissa in Patliputra. to him. It was discovered by A Tryer. It is SUNGA Dynasty written in the Sanskrit language. • Pushyamitra Sunga was the Commander-in- • He was called Napoleon of India for his Chief of Mauryan armed forces. conquests by Vincent Smith. • He overthrew the last Mauryan ruler. It led to • He gave permission to Sri Lankan ruler the persecution of Buddhists and resurgence Meghavarnan to construct a monastery at of Hinduism. Bodh Gaya. • Two Ashwamedha Yagyas were held under • He was also known as Kaviraj for his his reign with Patanjali as the main priest - patronizing of art. Ayodhya Inscription of Dhandev Chandragupta II - Vikramaditya • Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra was the hero • He killed his brother and married his widow of Kalidasa’s drama, • He used friendly relations and matrimonial GUPTA Empire alliances to extend his empire. • The most striking difference in the • Navaratna present in his court were: administration of Guptas from Mauryas was 3. Amarasimh that in Mauryas power was centralized while 1. Kalidas 2. Shanku in Guptas power was decentralized. a • Empire was divided into provinces and each province was further divided into districts. 4. Vetalbhatt 5. Vararuchi 6. Panaka Villages were the smallest units. a • Sri Gupta was the founder of the Gupta dynasty. 7. Varahamir8. Dhanwanta9. Ghatakarpar • Rule of the Guptas is known as Indian Golden a ri a Age as rapid strides were made in various fields. • Fa-Hien, a Chinese traveller visited during • Aryabhatta stated that earth moved around his reign. the sun and rotates on its own axis. His most Kumaragupta famous work is • He established the Nalanda University which • Varahamihira composed Pancha Siddhanta became a centre of learning. and Brihat Samhita. • He was also known as Mahendraditya. • Kalidasa wrote famous dramas like Skandagupta Malvikagnimitram, Abhigyanashakuntalam • Junagarh Inscription - his governor got and Kumarasambhava restoration of Sudarshana Lake. It was • Mrichakatika by Sudraka, Panchatantra by originally constructed by the Mauryas. Vishnu Sharma and Kamasutra by • He was the last of the great rulers and after Vatsyasana were also written in this period. him, the empire began to disintegrate. Chandragupta I • Vishnugupta was the last ruler of the dynasty. • He was the son of Ghatotkacha (son of Sri PALA Empire Gupta). • They were the followers of Mahayana and • He was the first king to use the title tantric school of Buddhism. Maharajadhiraja. • Gopala was the first ruler of the dynasty. He was elected democratically. www.gradeup.co • Odantipur (now in Bihar Sharif), a Buddhist Note: Patna was rebuilt and named as Azimabad by Mahavihara was established by Gopala. subedar Azim-ush-shan who was the grandson of the • Dharmapala captured Kannauj and took the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Azim. title of Uttarapathasvamin ("Lord of the MODERN HISTORY OF BIHAR North"). The arrival of Europeans: • Vikramashila University (in Bhagalpur) was 1.