Mahājanapadas were ancient Indian Kingdoms. The word Mahajanpada derived from two words ‘maha’ meaning great and ‘janapada’ meaning foothold of people.
There are 16 Mahajanpadas according to Buddhist Text found in Anguttara Nikaya & Mahavastu and Jain Literature Bhagavati Sutta.
Here Listed the 16 Mahajanpadas, their Capitals and Locations
• Mahajanpada States were of two types- Monarchial and Non - Monarchial or Republican.
• In republics, every tribal oligarch claimed share in revenues from peasants. In the monarchies, the king claimed to be the sole recipient of such revenues.
• In the tribal oligarchy or republic, each raja (tribal oligarch) was free to maintain his own little army under his senapati. In a monarchy, the king maintaind his regular standing army. He did not permit any other armed forces within his boundaries.
• Republics functioned under the leadership of the oligarchic assemblies, while a monarchy functioned under the individual leadership of the king.
• The Brahamanas had a considerable influence on the monarchial administration, while they were relegated to the background in the republics.
The main features of Mahajanpada Period were establishment of large Kingdoms, growth of towns and increased revenues. The trade ties between foreign lands established and resulted in prosperity of the region. Several trade routes were established. . One trade route was from Kosambi, through Gangetic plain, to Punjab and then Taxila joining the routes to Iran, Central Asia, European countries and several countries of Asia. Another route started from Rajagriha and, passing through Kosambi and Ujjaini, was connected with the port of Baroach from where the trade was carried on with western countries through sea-route. One important route passed through the entire Gangetic plain and reached the boundary of Burma and yet, another route connected northern plain with the sea-coast of south-east. The increase prosperity further led to social structure elevation. Towns turned into cities. Growth in trade resulted in rich trading communities which turned into towns further. Also several castes and sub-castes were formed during this era.
There are 16 Mahajanpadas according to Buddhist Text found in Anguttara Nikaya & Mahavastu and Jain Literature Bhagavati Sutta.
Here Listed the 16 Mahajanpadas, their Capitals and Locations
The 16 Mahajanapadas
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Mahajanapadas
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Capitals
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Locations
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Gandhara
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Taxila
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Covering the region between Kabul
and Rawalpindi in North Western
Province.
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Kamboja
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Rajpur
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Covering the area around the Punch area in Kashmir
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Asmaka
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Potana
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Covering modern Paithan in Maharashtra;
on the bank of River Godavari
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Vatsa
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Kaushambi
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Covering modern districts of Allahabad and Mirzapur
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Avanti
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Ujjain
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Covering modern Malwa (Ujjain) region of Madhya Pradesh.
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Surasena
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Mathura
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Located in the Mathura
region at the junction of the Uttarapath & Dakshinapath
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Chedi
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Shuktimati
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Covering the modern Budelkhand area
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Maila
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Kushinara, Pawa
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Modern districts of Deoria, Basti, Gorakhapur in eastern
Uttar Pradesh. Later merged into Maghada
Kingdom
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Kurus
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Hastinapur/Indraprastha
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Covering the modern Haryana and Delhi area to the west of River Yamuna
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Matsya
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Virat Nagari
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Covering the area of Alwar, Bharatpur and Jaipur in Rajasthan
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Vajjis
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Vaishali
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Located to the north of the River Ganga in Bihar. It was the seat of united republic of eight
smaller kingdoms of which Lichhavis, Janatriks and Videhas were also members.
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Anga
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Champa
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Covering the modern districts of Munger and Bhagalpur in Bihar. The
Kingdoms were later merged by Bindusara into Magadha.
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Kashi
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Banaras
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Located in and around present day Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
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Kosala
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Shravasti
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Covering the present districts of Faizabad, Gonda,
Bahraich, etc.
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Magadga
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Girivraja/Rajgriha
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Covering modern districts of Patna,
Gaya and
parts of Shahabad.
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Panchala
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Ahichhatra (W. Panchala),
Kampilya (S. Panchala) |
Present day Rohilkhand and part of Central
Doab in Uttar Pradesh.
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• Mahajanpada States were of two types- Monarchial and Non - Monarchial or Republican.
• In republics, every tribal oligarch claimed share in revenues from peasants. In the monarchies, the king claimed to be the sole recipient of such revenues.
• In the tribal oligarchy or republic, each raja (tribal oligarch) was free to maintain his own little army under his senapati. In a monarchy, the king maintaind his regular standing army. He did not permit any other armed forces within his boundaries.
• Republics functioned under the leadership of the oligarchic assemblies, while a monarchy functioned under the individual leadership of the king.
• The Brahamanas had a considerable influence on the monarchial administration, while they were relegated to the background in the republics.
Socio-Economic Conditions during Mahajanpada Period
The main features of Mahajanpada Period were establishment of large Kingdoms, growth of towns and increased revenues. The trade ties between foreign lands established and resulted in prosperity of the region. Several trade routes were established. . One trade route was from Kosambi, through Gangetic plain, to Punjab and then Taxila joining the routes to Iran, Central Asia, European countries and several countries of Asia. Another route started from Rajagriha and, passing through Kosambi and Ujjaini, was connected with the port of Baroach from where the trade was carried on with western countries through sea-route. One important route passed through the entire Gangetic plain and reached the boundary of Burma and yet, another route connected northern plain with the sea-coast of south-east. The increase prosperity further led to social structure elevation. Towns turned into cities. Growth in trade resulted in rich trading communities which turned into towns further. Also several castes and sub-castes were formed during this era.
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