600 BC - Age of revolutions 600 BC - Age of second urbanization Age of Intellectual revolution - Rise of Heterodox sects Age of political revolution - Rise of Mahajanapadas Age of Iron revolution - Use of Iron implements in agriculture Role of Iron Trade routes during 6th century BC Political setup in 6th century BC - Emergence of Imperialist ideas from later Vedic period - 6th century BC - Disintegration of tribal polity and emergence of Mahajanpadas with monarchial setup. - State capitals as the centre of administration, religion, education, commerce - Rise of bureaucracy and a standing army - Buddhist texts - 16 Mahajanpadas Mahajanapadas Mahajanapadas Factors responsible for the rise of Mahajanapadas - Agri surplus - Met demands of administrative class related to management of surplus - Availability of Iron - Weapons and Agri tools - rise of a standing army - Transition from a tribal society to territorial states - Second urbanisation - Cities as hub of socio-eco and political milieu - Decline in influence of Brahmanas - Vaishyas in eco sphere and Kshatriyas in political sphere - Rise of Heterodox sects - Khatriya status higher than that of Brahmanas Mahajanapadas 1. Magadha - Most prominent among the Mahajanapadas - Capital - Earlier Rajagir later Pataliputra - Pataliputra - Confluence of R. Ganga, Son, Punpun and Gandak - Proximity to Iron ore rich Chhotanagpur region 2. Avanti - An important monarchy in West India ruled by ‘Pradyot dynasty’ - R. Vetravati divided into two halves - two capitals - Enroute the Dakshinapatha - Important centre of Buddhism - Conflict with Ajatshatru and Taxila - Shishunaga defeated Nandivardhana and integrated it with Magadha Mahajanapadas 3) Kashi - R. Varuna in north and R. Asi in the south - Jataka tales - rivalry between Kosala and Kashi - Later integrated - Important textile centre during Buddha’s time 4) Kosala - Bound by middle Himalayas of Nepal, R. Syandika (south), R. Gandak (east) and R.Gomati (west) - R. Sarayu divided it into - two capitals - Matrimonial alliance with Magadha - Prasenjit’s sister married to Bimbisara, but later conflict and merger 5) Vatsa Mahajanapadas - Capital - Kausambhi - ‘Udayana’, the famous ruler during Buddha’s time - Conflict between Avanti and Vatsa - Udayana the protagonist in plays - ‘Swapna-Vasavadatta’ by Bhasa, Ratnavali and Priyadarshika by Harsha 6) Vajjis/Vrijjis - Confederacy of eight clans - Vajjis, Lichchhavis, Videhas and Jnatrika - Vaishali capital of Lichchhavis, Mithila of Videha - Mahavira’s mother was a Lichchhavi prince and father from Jnatrika clan - Lichchhavi’s attacked by Ajatshatru - Head of Vajji confederacy - Chetaka who married his daughter Chellana to Bimbisara sister Trishala in Jnatrika clan Magadha empire Rise of Magadha Factors responsible Geography - Strategic - On crossroads of eastern and western trade - Natural defence for the capital cities - Rajgir - 5 Hills, Pataliputra surrounded by rivers Ganga, Gandak, Son, Punpun and Ghagra. - Mineral resource - Iron mines of Rajgir - Forest resource - Timber for construction and housing, elephants as a wing of army - Riverine plains - high soil fertility Rise of Magadha Economic factors Agri surplus - Use of Iron implements for clearing of forests and in agri. - Employment of Shudras and tribes in agriculture - High soil fertility Trade - Magadha, the terminus of Uttarapatha - Upstream - Linked N.India to Kasia and further up to Delhi region through Yamuna; Downstream - Linked to Tamralipti port - Champa port for trade with South East Asia, Ceylon and South India - Imperialistic expansion further strengthened control of R. Ganga Rise of Magadha Cultural factors - Location of Magadha in the eastern plains far from the hotbed of Vedic culture. - Magadha composite culture - Interaction of Aryans with others - Magadha - Influence of Heterodox sects - better position of shudras (agriculture, army) - Recently Vedicised - Greater enthusiasm from expansion Political factors - Constant wars between polities - no united front against Magadha - Matrimonial alliances with Kosal, Lichchhavis, Madra - Imperialist outlook of rulers - Bimbisara, Ajatshatru, Shisunaga and Nandas Rise of Magadha Military Factors - Large standing army recruited from all varnas - Elephants as an important organ - Complex weapons - Ajatshatru’s chariot with a mace, catapult engine Magadha dynasty Haryanka Dynasty (600 - 413 BC) Shishunaga Dynasty (600 - 413 BC) Nanda Dynasty (345 - 321 BC) Magadha dynasty Bimbisara - Imperialism - Annexation of Anga - Matrimonial alliance - Kosala princes (sister of Prasenjit), Chellana (Lichchhavi princes), Kshema Madra princess - Buddhist inspiration - attainment of ‘sotapannahood’ Ajatshatru - Referred to as ‘Vaidehi putra’ in inscriptions - Made elaborate arrangements for defence of Patali Grama - Policy of conquest and annexation - War with Lichchhavis, Kosala, but failed to conquer Avanti - Organised the first Buddhist council presided by Mahakassapa around 400 BC Udayin - Shifted the capital from Rajgir to Pataliputra Magadha dynasty Shishunaga dynasty - Founded by Shishunaga, who ascended the throne due to a public rebellion around 413 BC - Annexation and integration of Avanti - Kalashoka organised the second Buddhist council Nanda Dynasty - Founded by Mahapadma - Mahapadma Nanda - “Ekrat” in Puranas, conqueror of Kalinga (Hathigumpha inscription), first empire builders in India Diodorus, - Large standing army - Reference by Greek historian Plutarch, Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus - Last Nanda king ‘Dhana Nanda’ unpopular Magadha dynasty Republics Located at the foothills of Himalayas or near Indus basin - Republics as remnants of old tribal polities - Emergence as a reaction against excessive materialism in later Vedic age and too much concentration of power due to hereditary kingship, appropriation of all revenues by the later chiefs - Romanticised old tribal setup - Republics of two types - Clan based - Sakya, Mallas - Confederacy - Vajjis, Yadavas.