PPT: Kings, Farmers and Towns | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

 Page 1


Kings, Farmers and 
Towns: Early States and 
Economies (c. 600 BCE-
600 CE)
Page 2


Kings, Farmers and 
Towns: Early States and 
Economies (c. 600 BCE-
600 CE)
The Post-Harappan World
1
Agricultural Settlements
Following the end of the Harappan civilization, agricultural settlements 
emerged across the subcontinent including north India, the Deccan 
Plateau, and parts of Karnataka. Pastoral populations thrived in the 
Deccan and southern regions.
2
Megaliths and Iron Tools
From the first millennium BCE, elaborate stone structures called 
megaliths appeared in central and south India. The dead were often buried 
with iron tools and weapons, indicating technological advancement.
3
Emergence of States
From the sixth century BCE, early states, empires and kingdoms began to 
develop. New agricultural organization supported these political entities, 
and towns appeared throughout the subcontinent.
Page 3


Kings, Farmers and 
Towns: Early States and 
Economies (c. 600 BCE-
600 CE)
The Post-Harappan World
1
Agricultural Settlements
Following the end of the Harappan civilization, agricultural settlements 
emerged across the subcontinent including north India, the Deccan 
Plateau, and parts of Karnataka. Pastoral populations thrived in the 
Deccan and southern regions.
2
Megaliths and Iron Tools
From the first millennium BCE, elaborate stone structures called 
megaliths appeared in central and south India. The dead were often buried 
with iron tools and weapons, indicating technological advancement.
3
Emergence of States
From the sixth century BCE, early states, empires and kingdoms began to 
develop. New agricultural organization supported these political entities, 
and towns appeared throughout the subcontinent.
Prinsep and Piyadassi
Deciphering Ancient 
Scripts
A breakthrough in Indian epigraphy 
occurred in the 1830s when James 
Prinsep, an East India Company officer, 
deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi 
scripts used in the earliest inscriptions 
and coins.
Discovering Asoka
Prinsep found that most inscriptions 
mentioned a king called Piyadassi 
("pleasant to behold"). Some 
inscriptions also identified him as Asoka, 
a famous ruler known from Buddhist 
texts, connecting archaeological 
evidence with written history.
Reconstructing Political 
History
European and Indian scholars used 
inscriptions and texts in various 
languages to reconstruct the lineages of 
major dynasties. By the early 20th 
century, they began investigating 
connections between political changes 
and socioeconomic developments.
Page 4


Kings, Farmers and 
Towns: Early States and 
Economies (c. 600 BCE-
600 CE)
The Post-Harappan World
1
Agricultural Settlements
Following the end of the Harappan civilization, agricultural settlements 
emerged across the subcontinent including north India, the Deccan 
Plateau, and parts of Karnataka. Pastoral populations thrived in the 
Deccan and southern regions.
2
Megaliths and Iron Tools
From the first millennium BCE, elaborate stone structures called 
megaliths appeared in central and south India. The dead were often buried 
with iron tools and weapons, indicating technological advancement.
3
Emergence of States
From the sixth century BCE, early states, empires and kingdoms began to 
develop. New agricultural organization supported these political entities, 
and towns appeared throughout the subcontinent.
Prinsep and Piyadassi
Deciphering Ancient 
Scripts
A breakthrough in Indian epigraphy 
occurred in the 1830s when James 
Prinsep, an East India Company officer, 
deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi 
scripts used in the earliest inscriptions 
and coins.
Discovering Asoka
Prinsep found that most inscriptions 
mentioned a king called Piyadassi 
("pleasant to behold"). Some 
inscriptions also identified him as Asoka, 
a famous ruler known from Buddhist 
texts, connecting archaeological 
evidence with written history.
Reconstructing Political 
History
European and Indian scholars used 
inscriptions and texts in various 
languages to reconstruct the lineages of 
major dynasties. By the early 20th 
century, they began investigating 
connections between political changes 
and socioeconomic developments.
The Earliest States
The Sixteen Mahajanpadas
1
2
3
Sixteen Mahajanapadas
The sixth century BCE marked a turning point 
in early Indian history. Buddhist and Jaina 
texts mention sixteen states known as 
mahajanapadas, including important ones like 
Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, 
Gandhara, and Avanti.
Kings and Oligarchies
While most mahajanapadas were ruled by 
kings, some were oligarchies (ganas or sanghas) 
where power was shared by several men 
collectively called rajas. Both Mahavira and 
Buddha belonged to such ganas.
Resource Collection
Dharmasutras advised rulers to collect taxes 
from cultivators, traders, and artisans. States 
acquired standing armies and maintained 
regular bureaucracies, while others depended 
on militia recruited from peasantry.
Page 5


Kings, Farmers and 
Towns: Early States and 
Economies (c. 600 BCE-
600 CE)
The Post-Harappan World
1
Agricultural Settlements
Following the end of the Harappan civilization, agricultural settlements 
emerged across the subcontinent including north India, the Deccan 
Plateau, and parts of Karnataka. Pastoral populations thrived in the 
Deccan and southern regions.
2
Megaliths and Iron Tools
From the first millennium BCE, elaborate stone structures called 
megaliths appeared in central and south India. The dead were often buried 
with iron tools and weapons, indicating technological advancement.
3
Emergence of States
From the sixth century BCE, early states, empires and kingdoms began to 
develop. New agricultural organization supported these political entities, 
and towns appeared throughout the subcontinent.
Prinsep and Piyadassi
Deciphering Ancient 
Scripts
A breakthrough in Indian epigraphy 
occurred in the 1830s when James 
Prinsep, an East India Company officer, 
deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi 
scripts used in the earliest inscriptions 
and coins.
Discovering Asoka
Prinsep found that most inscriptions 
mentioned a king called Piyadassi 
("pleasant to behold"). Some 
inscriptions also identified him as Asoka, 
a famous ruler known from Buddhist 
texts, connecting archaeological 
evidence with written history.
Reconstructing Political 
History
European and Indian scholars used 
inscriptions and texts in various 
languages to reconstruct the lineages of 
major dynasties. By the early 20th 
century, they began investigating 
connections between political changes 
and socioeconomic developments.
The Earliest States
The Sixteen Mahajanpadas
1
2
3
Sixteen Mahajanapadas
The sixth century BCE marked a turning point 
in early Indian history. Buddhist and Jaina 
texts mention sixteen states known as 
mahajanapadas, including important ones like 
Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, 
Gandhara, and Avanti.
Kings and Oligarchies
While most mahajanapadas were ruled by 
kings, some were oligarchies (ganas or sanghas) 
where power was shared by several men 
collectively called rajas. Both Mahavira and 
Buddha belonged to such ganas.
Resource Collection
Dharmasutras advised rulers to collect taxes 
from cultivators, traders, and artisans. States 
acquired standing armies and maintained 
regular bureaucracies, while others depended 
on militia recruited from peasantry.
First amongst the sixteen: Magadha
Geographic Advantages
Between the sixth and fourth centuries 
BCE, Magadha (in present-day Bihar) 
became the most powerful 
mahajanapada. This was due to 
productive agriculture, accessible iron 
mines, forests with elephants for 
armies, and the Ganga and tributaries 
providing convenient communication.
Ambitious Leaders
Buddhist and Jaina writers attributed 
Magadha's power to ruthlessly 
ambitious kings like Bimbisara, 
Ajatasattu, and Mahapadma Nanda, 
along with effective ministers who 
implemented their policies.
Strategic Capitals
Initially, Rajagaha (present-day Rajgir) served as the fortified capital. Later, in the 
fourth century BCE, the capital shifted to Pataliputra (present-day Patna), 
commanding important communication routes along the Ganga.