Rise of Mahajanapadas | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
  
 
  
Epic Age 
The period in which Aryan tribes wrote two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata is called Epic 
Age. The victory of good over evil is epitomized in Ramayana whereas Mahabharata spells out the 
concept of Dharma and duty. 
Ramayana was written between 300 BC to 200 AD by Valmiki Maharshi in Sanskrit language  
Kerala Valmiki – Vallathol Narayana Menon 
Vallathol Narayana Menon traslated Ramayana into Malayalam. 
Mahabharata  was written between 500BC and 400 AD by Vysasa Maharshi in Sanskrit.  
Kerala Vyasa - Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran 
The end of later vedic period marked a drastic change in the socio economic life of the people. 
The cultivation and agriculture flourished. As a result,  the crops, grains and commodities became 
excess than what was required for personal use, leading to the development of trade centres. 
Trade centres sprung up in popular places and later these became towns or Janapathas. In Epic 
age, trades routes emerged, connecting these towns. A number of Janapathas got well connected 
to each others forming Mahajanapathas. 
There were two type of Mahajanapathas 
1. Mahajanapathas in the Gangetic plain which was ruled by the king; and 
2. Mahajanapathas below the Himalayan region which was ruled in a democratic way by a group 
of leaders called Gana Sangha. 
There were 16 Mahajanapathas in the Indian sub continent. Each Mahajanapatha had a capital 
city where the ruler resided. The capital city was well secured from the potential attacks of other 
Mahajanapathas by constructing huge walls or forts around it. The size and architecture of the 
fort was an Indication of the financial power of the ruler. 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
RISE OF MAHAJANAPADAS
Page 2


 
  
 
  
Epic Age 
The period in which Aryan tribes wrote two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata is called Epic 
Age. The victory of good over evil is epitomized in Ramayana whereas Mahabharata spells out the 
concept of Dharma and duty. 
Ramayana was written between 300 BC to 200 AD by Valmiki Maharshi in Sanskrit language  
Kerala Valmiki – Vallathol Narayana Menon 
Vallathol Narayana Menon traslated Ramayana into Malayalam. 
Mahabharata  was written between 500BC and 400 AD by Vysasa Maharshi in Sanskrit.  
Kerala Vyasa - Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran 
The end of later vedic period marked a drastic change in the socio economic life of the people. 
The cultivation and agriculture flourished. As a result,  the crops, grains and commodities became 
excess than what was required for personal use, leading to the development of trade centres. 
Trade centres sprung up in popular places and later these became towns or Janapathas. In Epic 
age, trades routes emerged, connecting these towns. A number of Janapathas got well connected 
to each others forming Mahajanapathas. 
There were two type of Mahajanapathas 
1. Mahajanapathas in the Gangetic plain which was ruled by the king; and 
2. Mahajanapathas below the Himalayan region which was ruled in a democratic way by a group 
of leaders called Gana Sangha. 
There were 16 Mahajanapathas in the Indian sub continent. Each Mahajanapatha had a capital 
city where the ruler resided. The capital city was well secured from the potential attacks of other 
Mahajanapathas by constructing huge walls or forts around it. The size and architecture of the 
fort was an Indication of the financial power of the ruler. 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
RISE OF MAHAJANAPADAS
 
  
 
Some of the important Mahajanapathas and their capital cities are: 
             
Out of the 16 Mahajanapathas, Magadha and Vajji were the most important ones. 
Magadha 
Magadha remained as the most important and most powerful 
Mahajanapatha for about 200 years. It was headed by king. 
Some of the important rulers of Magadha were Bimbisara, 
Ajatshatru and Mahapatma Nanda. Rajgriha was the capital city 
of Magadha. Later, the capital was shifted to Patliputra. 
 
 
 
Vajji  
Vajji was situated in the foothills of Himalayas. There was specific head of state for Vajji. The day 
to day administration was carried out in a democratic way by a public assembly headed by tribal 
heads. This system of administration  was known as Ganasangha system. Vaisali was the capital 
of Vajji 
Page 3


 
  
 
  
Epic Age 
The period in which Aryan tribes wrote two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata is called Epic 
Age. The victory of good over evil is epitomized in Ramayana whereas Mahabharata spells out the 
concept of Dharma and duty. 
Ramayana was written between 300 BC to 200 AD by Valmiki Maharshi in Sanskrit language  
Kerala Valmiki – Vallathol Narayana Menon 
Vallathol Narayana Menon traslated Ramayana into Malayalam. 
Mahabharata  was written between 500BC and 400 AD by Vysasa Maharshi in Sanskrit.  
Kerala Vyasa - Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran 
The end of later vedic period marked a drastic change in the socio economic life of the people. 
The cultivation and agriculture flourished. As a result,  the crops, grains and commodities became 
excess than what was required for personal use, leading to the development of trade centres. 
Trade centres sprung up in popular places and later these became towns or Janapathas. In Epic 
age, trades routes emerged, connecting these towns. A number of Janapathas got well connected 
to each others forming Mahajanapathas. 
There were two type of Mahajanapathas 
1. Mahajanapathas in the Gangetic plain which was ruled by the king; and 
2. Mahajanapathas below the Himalayan region which was ruled in a democratic way by a group 
of leaders called Gana Sangha. 
There were 16 Mahajanapathas in the Indian sub continent. Each Mahajanapatha had a capital 
city where the ruler resided. The capital city was well secured from the potential attacks of other 
Mahajanapathas by constructing huge walls or forts around it. The size and architecture of the 
fort was an Indication of the financial power of the ruler. 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
RISE OF MAHAJANAPADAS
 
  
 
Some of the important Mahajanapathas and their capital cities are: 
             
Out of the 16 Mahajanapathas, Magadha and Vajji were the most important ones. 
Magadha 
Magadha remained as the most important and most powerful 
Mahajanapatha for about 200 years. It was headed by king. 
Some of the important rulers of Magadha were Bimbisara, 
Ajatshatru and Mahapatma Nanda. Rajgriha was the capital city 
of Magadha. Later, the capital was shifted to Patliputra. 
 
 
 
Vajji  
Vajji was situated in the foothills of Himalayas. There was specific head of state for Vajji. The day 
to day administration was carried out in a democratic way by a public assembly headed by tribal 
heads. This system of administration  was known as Ganasangha system. Vaisali was the capital 
of Vajji 
 
  
 
The mainland of Magadha was well protected by the nature. It was surrounded by rivers on 3 
sides and and the fourth side by the Vindhya ranges. The land was rich in iron ore which was 
excavated, processed and used to make weapons and farming equipments. The fertile gangetic 
plain helped agriculture to flourish in the region. Logs of huge trees available in the region was 
used to make wooden boats by which commodities were transported. 
The Magadha Janapatha maintained a permanent army. Elephants were trained and used in 
wars. The king had to allocate a huge amount for sustaining his military strength. As the expenses 
increased, the king started collecting taxes from the people. 
Taxes on crops was called Bhaga. The farmers had to pay the king 1/6 th of the total grains 
produced by them as tax.  
Craft persons paid tax in the form of labour.  
Herders had to pay tax as animals and animal products,  while hunters and gatherers paid as forest 
products.  
This era marked the beginning of compulsory tax collection system.