Arrange the following Mahajanapadas that came into existence in 6th ce...
- Option (d) is correct: The correct order of Mahajanpadas from north to south is: Taxila-Koshala-Magadha-Avanti.
Supplementary notes:
The age of Mahajanapadas
- The sixth-century B.C was a period of intense and new political development besides socio-political and religious upheavals that brought two religions to the fore-Buddhism and Jainism. In the later Vedic age, agriculture and iron tools helped people to settle down at one particular place.
- The permanent settlement led to the foundation of the janapadas or small territorial states under the control of a king. The main area of political activity gradually shifted from Western UP to eastern UP and Bihar. This region was not only fertile due to the rainfall and river systems but also closer to iron production centers. The use of better iron tools and weapons along with sound economic growth resulted in the transformation of some territorial states into Bigger and more powerful states, which came to be known as Mahajanapdas.
- There were 16 Mahajanapadas in ancient India. They were:
(i) Anga
(ii) Magadha
(iii) Kasi
(iv) Vatsa
(v) Kosala
(vi) Saurasena
(vii) Kuru
(viii) Matsya
(ix) Chedi
(x) Avanti
(xi) Gandhara
(xii) Kamboja
(xiii) Ashmaka
(xiv) Vajji
(xv) Malla
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Arrange the following Mahajanapadas that came into existence in 6th ce...
Arrangement of Mahajanapadas in North to South:
The correct arrangement of the Mahajanapadas that came into existence in the 6th century BC from North to South is option (D), which is 2-4-3-1. Let's understand the reasoning behind this order:
1. Taxila:
Taxila was an ancient city located in present-day Pakistan, which was an important center of learning and trade. It was located in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent, making it the northernmost among the given Mahajanapadas.
2. Koshala:
Koshala was an ancient kingdom that primarily covered the present-day regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India. It was located slightly south to Taxila, making it the second Mahajanapada in the north-south arrangement.
3. Magadha:
Magadha was a powerful and prosperous ancient kingdom that emerged as a major political and cultural center in the 6th century BC. It was located in the present-day state of Bihar in eastern India. Magadha is placed third in the arrangement, as it is situated below Koshala.
4. Avanti:
Avanti was an ancient kingdom located in the western part of present-day Madhya Pradesh in India. It was situated in the southern region of the Indian subcontinent, making it the southernmost among the given Mahajanapadas.
Therefore, the correct arrangement of the Mahajanapadas from North to South is 2-4-3-1, which is Taxila-Koshala-Magadha-Avanti.
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