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Janapadas and Mahajanapadas

chapter 11 jaNapadaS aNd

maHajaNapadaS

In later Vedic period, the large-scale use of iron tools helped to clean the dense forests of
North of the Ganga. Some of the states grew up into powerful empires. They had a separate
government for administration and were independent from any external control. Farming in
these fertile areas yields rich crops. So, the Aryans rapidly expanded their territories eastwards.

Janapadas : From the 6th Century BC onwards, the widespread use of iron in Eastern
Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar created conditions for the formation of large territorial
states. The farmer could produce more food grains and the extra produce was collected
by the princess to meet their military and administrative needs. This gave rise to proper
settlements called Janapadas. The term ‘Janapada’ literally means the foothold of a tribe.
The fact that Janapada is derived from Jana suggests the taking of land by a Jana tribe for
a settled way of life.

The main sources of information of this period are the Vedic and Buddhist texts. The Vedic
texts like Upanishads give information about the Janapadas and Mahajanapadas.

Various ancient settlements were discovered by the archaeologists such as Purana Qila in Delhi
and Hastinapur near Meerut and Atranjikhera in Uttar Pradesh. The animal and plant remains
show that the people reared mainly cattle and cultivated crops such as barley, rice, wheat,
sugarcane, pulses and peas. The remains of pottery found at the sites are of two main types—a
type of grey pottery with painted designs, known as Painted Grey Ware (PGW) and red pottery.
maHaJanapadas

The Janapadas were always fighting themselves
for territory or for the control of rivers,
through which they could carry on trade. The
Janapadas that became powerful were called
the Mahajanpadas. There were altogether
16 Mahajanpadas. Among the important
Mahajanapadas were Magadh, Vajji, Kosala,
Vatsa and Avanti. There were frequent wars
among the Mahajanpadas. Ultimately Magadh
emerged as the major power.

repuBlIcs and monarcHIes

The republics were ruled by a groups of powerful
people elected by the common people of a
republic. Kingship was not hereditary and all
decisions were taken democratically. Shakyas
and Lichchhavis were the important republics
of the 6th Century BC. The Sixteen Mahajanpadas

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