PPT: New Beginnings: Cities and States | PPTs for Class 7 PDF Download

 Page 1


New Beginnings: Cities 
and States
Page 2


New Beginnings: Cities 
and States
Introduction: India's Second 
Urbanisation
Harappan Civilisation
After the Harappan 
Civilisation (India's First 
Urbanisation) ended around 
2000 BCE, cities were 
abandoned, and people lived a 
rural life for about 1000 years.
Second Urbanisation
In the 1st millennium BCE, new 
cities grew in the Ganga 
plains, parts of the Indus 
basin, and other regions, 
starting India's Second 
Urbanisation.
Historical Sources
We know about this period from archaeological excavations 
(digging up old cities) and ancient texts like late Vedic, Buddhist, and 
Jain literature.
Page 3


New Beginnings: Cities 
and States
Introduction: India's Second 
Urbanisation
Harappan Civilisation
After the Harappan 
Civilisation (India's First 
Urbanisation) ended around 
2000 BCE, cities were 
abandoned, and people lived a 
rural life for about 1000 years.
Second Urbanisation
In the 1st millennium BCE, new 
cities grew in the Ganga 
plains, parts of the Indus 
basin, and other regions, 
starting India's Second 
Urbanisation.
Historical Sources
We know about this period from archaeological excavations 
(digging up old cities) and ancient texts like late Vedic, Buddhist, and 
Jain literature.
What are Janapadas 
and Mah
janapadas?
Towards the end of the 2nd millennium BCE, people in 
north India formed groups or clans with shared 
language and customs, settling in areas called 
janapadas (meaning "where people set foot"). By the 
8th or 7th century BCE, some janapadas merged to 
form larger states called mahajanapadas.
Map of 16 Mahajanpadas
Page 4


New Beginnings: Cities 
and States
Introduction: India's Second 
Urbanisation
Harappan Civilisation
After the Harappan 
Civilisation (India's First 
Urbanisation) ended around 
2000 BCE, cities were 
abandoned, and people lived a 
rural life for about 1000 years.
Second Urbanisation
In the 1st millennium BCE, new 
cities grew in the Ganga 
plains, parts of the Indus 
basin, and other regions, 
starting India's Second 
Urbanisation.
Historical Sources
We know about this period from archaeological excavations 
(digging up old cities) and ancient texts like late Vedic, Buddhist, and 
Jain literature.
What are Janapadas 
and Mah
janapadas?
Towards the end of the 2nd millennium BCE, people in 
north India formed groups or clans with shared 
language and customs, settling in areas called 
janapadas (meaning "where people set foot"). By the 
8th or 7th century BCE, some janapadas merged to 
form larger states called mahajanapadas.
Map of 16 Mahajanpadas
Major Mahajanapadas and Their Capitals
Janapada Leadership
Each janapada was led by a raja (ruler) and tied to a specific territory.
The 16 Mahajanapadas
Ancient texts list 16 mahajanapadas, stretching from Gandh
ra (northwest) to Anga (east) and A[hmaka (central India near the 
Godavari River).
Powerful States
Powerful mahajanapadas included Magadha (Bihar), Kosala (Uttar Pradesh), Vatsa, and Avanti (Madhya Pradesh).
Ancient Capitals
Their capitals, like Rajagriha (Magadha) and Kau[h
mb+ (Vatsa), were large, fortified cities with moats and narrow gateways for 
defense.
Living History
Many of these ancient capitals, about 2500 years old, are still cities today.
Page 5


New Beginnings: Cities 
and States
Introduction: India's Second 
Urbanisation
Harappan Civilisation
After the Harappan 
Civilisation (India's First 
Urbanisation) ended around 
2000 BCE, cities were 
abandoned, and people lived a 
rural life for about 1000 years.
Second Urbanisation
In the 1st millennium BCE, new 
cities grew in the Ganga 
plains, parts of the Indus 
basin, and other regions, 
starting India's Second 
Urbanisation.
Historical Sources
We know about this period from archaeological excavations 
(digging up old cities) and ancient texts like late Vedic, Buddhist, and 
Jain literature.
What are Janapadas 
and Mah
janapadas?
Towards the end of the 2nd millennium BCE, people in 
north India formed groups or clans with shared 
language and customs, settling in areas called 
janapadas (meaning "where people set foot"). By the 
8th or 7th century BCE, some janapadas merged to 
form larger states called mahajanapadas.
Map of 16 Mahajanpadas
Major Mahajanapadas and Their Capitals
Janapada Leadership
Each janapada was led by a raja (ruler) and tied to a specific territory.
The 16 Mahajanapadas
Ancient texts list 16 mahajanapadas, stretching from Gandh
ra (northwest) to Anga (east) and A[hmaka (central India near the 
Godavari River).
Powerful States
Powerful mahajanapadas included Magadha (Bihar), Kosala (Uttar Pradesh), Vatsa, and Avanti (Madhya Pradesh).
Ancient Capitals
Their capitals, like Rajagriha (Magadha) and Kau[h
mb+ (Vatsa), were large, fortified cities with moats and narrow gateways for 
defense.
Living History
Many of these ancient capitals, about 2500 years old, are still cities today.
Growth Factors of 
Mahajanapadas
Fertile Land
The land was 
fertile for 
agriculture.
Iron Resources
Iron ore in 
nearby 
mountains 
helped make 
tools and 
weapons.
Trade 
Networks
New trade 
networks 
connected 
regions.
Fertile Ganga Plains helped Mahajanpadas to grow