Janapadas and Mahajanapadas Chapter Notes | History Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

Sources of Information

• Information about the Vedic period comes from literary sources like Vedic texts (Brahmanas, Upanishads) and Buddhist texts (Jataka Tales).
• Archaeological excavations at sites like Purana Qila (Delhi), Hastinapur (near Meerut), and Atranjikhera (near Etah, Uttar Pradesh) provide evidence.
• Excavations show people reared cattle and grew crops like rice, wheat, barley, pulses, and sugarcane.
• Painted Grey Ware pottery, with simple designs and a smooth surface, was common during the Vedic period.
• Black and Red Ware pottery was also found at many sites from this period.

The Mahajanapadas

• Janapadas with larger territories and more resources became mahajanapadas by the 6th century BCE.
• Buddhist texts list 16 mahajanapadas: Magadha, Avanti, Kosala, Vatsa, Kuru, Malla, Chedi, Kashi, Anga, Vajji, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Asmaka, Kamboja, and Gandhara.
• These mahajanapadas were named after the ruling or most important tribe in the area.
• Each mahajanapada had a fortified capital city with walls of bricks or stones.
• The most powerful mahajanapadas were Magadha, Kosala, Avanti, and Vatsa, with Magadha being the strongest.
• Jain texts, compiled later, mention a wider geographical area than Buddhist texts.

Republics and Monarchies

• Mahajanapadas had two types of political systems: Republics (gana-sanghas) and Monarchies.
• In republics, a group of elected people from various clans governed collectively without hereditary kingship.
• Decisions in republics were made by majority vote, similar to a democratic system.
• Vajji was an example of a republican mahajanapada.
• In monarchies, powerful kings ruled with large armies, and kingship was hereditary (passed to the son after the king’s death).
• Magadha was an example of a monarchical mahajanapada.

Important Aspects of the Mahajanapadas

Agriculture

• Iron tools like ploughs and hoes improved farming techniques.
• Canals and wells were dug to enhance irrigation.
• Paddy transplantation (growing seeds separately before planting in fields) improved crop quality and quantity.
• Surplus crops fed non-farmers and supported armies through taxes in the form of food grains.
• In republics, land was owned collectively and worked by slaves (dasas) and hired laborers (karmakaras).
• In monarchies, land ownership varied, with poorer people using family labor and richer ones using slaves and hired laborers.

Towns and Cities

• Surplus food allowed people to pursue occupations like carpentry, pottery, and weaving.
• Villages specializing in crafts became towns and cities.
• Towns and cities also developed around trade centers.
• Notable urban centers included Pataliputra, Rajagriha, Vaishali, and Champa, mentioned in Jataka Tales.

Trade

• Inland and overseas trade grew significantly.
• The barter system was replaced by punch-marked coins made of copper and silver.
• Coins were called punch-marked because metal lumps were punched with figures.
• Towns and cities became trade centers.
• People with the same occupations lived and worked together, forming guilds (shrenis).
• Each guild had rules for production, quality, prices, and distribution.
• Professions were hereditary.

Administration

• In monarchies, the king was the supreme authority, maintaining large armies and building fortified capitals.
• Kings were advised by ministers like the senapati (army commander), amatyas (ministers), purohit (priest), balisadhaka (tax officers), and gramini (village head).
• In republics, a group of elected representatives made decisions by majority vote, discussing important matters.

Taxation

• In the Early Vedic period, people gave goods voluntarily, but later, taxes were collected with the rise of states.
• Important taxes included bali (based on cultivated land) and bhaga (one-sixth of the produce).
• Taxes were collected by balisadhakas in cash or kind.
• Craftsmen like potters, weavers, and carpenters paid taxes in cash, kind, or by working for the king (e.g., one day per month).
• Merchants paid taxes for buying and selling goods.
• Taxes were used for building roads, wells, canals, paying salaries, maintaining armies, fortifying walls, and other welfare activities.

Society and Religion

• Gana-sanghas did not follow Vedic rituals or varna rules and were tolerant of unorthodox views.
• Mahavira (Jainism) and Buddha (Buddhism) came from gana-sanghas.
• In monarchies, the caste system became rigid, with strict rules against inter-caste marriages and dining.
• Professions became hereditary, and Brahmins and Kshatriyas held power.
• Shudras and slaves were exploited and had no rights.
• Vaishyas gained economic influence through trade.
• Brahmanism was the dominant religion, but expensive yajnas (sacrifices) were unaffordable for the poor.
• Jainism and Buddhism emerged in the 6th century BCE, gaining popularity among lower classes.
• Conversions between religions became common.

Case Study: Magadha

Location

• Magadha was the strongest and most powerful mahajanapada, located in present-day Bihar, south of the Ganga River.
• Its first capital was Rajgir, later shifted to Pataliputra.
• Rivers like Ganga and Son made the land fertile and supported transportation and trade.
• Nearby forests provided timber for chariots, buildings, and forts, and elephants for the army.
• Magadha had rich iron ore and copper deposits for making tools and weapons.

Kings and Empire

• Bimbisara (545–493 BCE) was the first important ruler, strengthening Magadha through expansion.
• Bimbisara conquered Anga, which had the important port of Champa.
• He used diplomatic relations with Avanti and Gandhara and marriage alliances with Kosala, Vaishali, and Madra to expand his empire.
• Bimbisara built roads to promote trade, dug wells and canals for irrigation, and traveled to stay informed about his kingdom.
• Ajatashatru, Bimbisara’s son, became king in 493 BCE, possibly by killing his father, and ruled until 463 BCE.
• Ajatashatru strengthened Rajgir and built a fort at Pataligrama, which later became Pataliputra.
• He conquered Kosala, Kashi, and the powerful republic of Vajji.
• Weak rulers followed Ajatashatru until the Nanda dynasty rose to power.
• Mahapadma Nanda was the most important Nanda ruler.
• Dhanananda, the last Nanda ruler, was defeated by Chandragupta Maurya around 321 BCE.
• Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan dynasty, establishing India’s first empire.
• Magadha was ruled by dynasties like Nanda, Maurya, Sunga, and Gupta.
• Magadha is mentioned in epics and Vedic texts like Atharvaveda Samhita, Taittiriya Brahmana, and Manava Dharmashastra.

Case Study: Vajji

• Vajji (also called Vrijji) was a republican mahajanapada located in present-day Bihar, with its capital at Vaishali.
• It had a gana-sangha government, ruled by a confederacy of eight clans.
• The Lichchhavis and Videhas were the most powerful clans.
• Representatives from these clans discussed important matters and made decisions by majority vote.

Meanwhile

• Around the same time, Athens in Greece had a democratic government.
• Free men over 30 were citizens and could attend assemblies to discuss important matters.
• Women, foreigners, and slaves were not considered citizens and had no rights.