Rise of Magadh
I. Fill in the blanks.
1. There were sixteen mahajanapadas according to information gathered from the Buddhist and Jain texts.
2. Based on the system of government that was prevalent, mahajanapadas were either republics or monarchies.
3. Out of the four powerful mahajanapadas Magadh emerged as the most powerful kingdom.
4. Bimbisar was killed by his son Ajatsatru.
5. Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda Dynasty.
6. Chandragupta Maurya laid the foundation of the Mauryan Empire.
7. Dhana Nanda was the last king of the Nanda Dynasty.
8. The capital of Magadh, during the rule of Bimbisar, was at Rajgriha.
9. Bimbisar received village of Kashi as dowry after he married the sister of the Kosala king.
10. Ajatsatru succeeded in subjugating Kosala and Vajji mahajanapadas.
11. Bimbisar maintained friendly relations with powerful ruler of Avanti.
12. Farmers had to pay one-sixth of their produce as taxes.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Name the sixteen mahajanapadas.
= The name of the sixteen mahajanapadas are - Magadh, Anga, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kashi, Kosala, Vajji, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Sursena, Asmaka, Gandhara, Kamboja and Avanti.
2. Which four mahajanapadas were more powerful than the others?
= The four mahajanapadas - Avanti, Vatsa, Kosala and Magadh - were more powerful than the others.
3. What were the main features of the mahajanapadas?
= The main features of the mahajanapadas were -
i) The rulers maintained a big standing army to protect their kingdom. The soldiers were given salaries in the form of coins such as the punch-marked coins, or the karshapana.
ii) Taxes were collected in cash or kind to maintain army and run the administration.
iii) The farmers paid one-sixth of their total produce as taxes.
iv) The administrative system of the mahajanapadas were both republics and monarchies.
4. Explain the factors that laid to the rise of Magadh.
= Several factors contributed to the rise of Magadh -
i) Magadh was strategically located (in present-day west-central Bihar). Rajgriha was its capital.
It was surrounded by five hills which made it difficult to be conquered. Later, the capital of Magadh was shifted to Patliputra. It was also strategically located at the confluence of the Ganga and the Son rivers.
ii) Drained by several rivers, the agricultural lands of Magadh were very fertile. The rivers provided continuous water supply and cheap water transport.
iii) Magadh had a large standing army and was the first to use war elephants on a large scale.
5. Write a short note on the revenue system of the mahajanapadas.
= In the mahajanapadas, taxes were collected in cash or kind. They were used for the maintenance of the army, to run the administration, build forts and create public welfare utilities such as roads, wells and canals. The farmers paid one-sixth of their total produce as taxes. The craftsmen and the herders paid taxes in kind.
6. Why was Bimbisar's rule important?
= Bimbisar was the first important ruler of Magadh. His capital was at Rajgriha. Both Buddha and Mahavira were contemporaries of Bimbisar and preached their religion in Magadh. Bimbisar was an efficient ruler. He was concerned about the welfare of the people. He built many roads and bridges.
7. What policies did Bimbisar follow to make Magadh the strongest power?
= Bimbisar followed a three-pronged policy to make Magadh a power state. These policies are as follows -
i) Matrimonial alliances : Bimbisar married the sister of the Kosala king, Prasenjit. He received the village of Kashi as dowry.
ii) Conquests : Bimbisar conquered the less powerful neighbouring states such as Anga. The conquests of Anga brought a part of Champa under his control and marked the beginning of a flourishing maritime trade. This made Magadh rich and prosperous.
iii) Friendly relationships : Bimbisar established friendly relations with powerful rulers such as Avanti.
8. What role did Ajatsatru play in establishing Magadh as a strong power?
= Ajatsatru was the successor of Bimbisar. He followed a policy of expansion. He waged long wars against Kosala and Vajji and subjugated them. He conquered the neighbouring states and made Magadh the paramount power.
9. Who was Mahapadma Nanda?
= Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda Dynasty. He seized the throne of Magadh in the fourth century BCE. He extended his rule up to the north-west frontier of India.
10. Explain the structure of the state of Vajji mahajanapada.
= Vajji was the seat of a united republic. It comprised eight smaller kingdoms, some of the main ones being Lichchhavis, Janatrika and Videha. Vajji had many rulers. All of them were called raja. Each of these rulers meet in assemblies to reach a common decision through debates and discussions.
11. Name the two religious sects that were contemporary to Bimbisar's reign.
= Buddhism and Jainism - were the two religious sects that were contemporary to Bimbisar's reign.
12. Who do you think made Magadh a more powerful mahajanapada? Was it Bimbisar or Ajatsatru? Give reason for your answer.
= I think both Bimbisar and Ajatsatru made Magadh a powerful mahajanapada.
Bimbisar adopted three policies - matrimonial alliances, conquests and friendly relationships to make Magadh powerful state. On the other had, Ajatsatru followed the expansion policy of Bimbisar and waged a long wars against Kosala and Vajji and subjugated them. He conquered the neighbouring states and made Magadh the paramount power.
III. Write short notes.
1. Nanda Dynasty.
= The successors of Ajatsatru were weak and inefficient, and were overthrown by the Nanda rulers. Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda Dynasty. He seized the throne of Magadh in the fourth century BCE. He extended his rule up to the north-west frontier of India.
Other Nanda rulers transformed Magadh into a mighty empire. However, the later Nanda rulers proved to be inefficient. The unpopularity of last Nanda king, Dhana Nanda, gave Chandragupta Maurya the opportunity to establish the Mauryan empire.
2. Bimbisar.
= Bimbisar was the first important ruler of Magadh. His capital was at Rajgriha. Both Buddha and Mahavira were contemporaries of Bimbisar and preached their religion in Magadh. Bimbisar was an efficient ruler. He was concerned about the welfare of the people. He built many roads and bridges.
Bimbisar followed a three-pronged policy to make Magadh a power state. These policies are as follows -
i) Matrimonial alliances : Bimbisar married the sister of the Kosala king, Prasenjit. He received the village of Kashi as dowry.
ii) Conquests : Bimbisar conquered the less powerful neighbouring states such as Anga. The conquests of Anga brought a part of Champa under his control and marked the beginning of a flourishing maritime trade. This made Magadh rich and prosperous.
iii) Friendly relationships : Bimbisar established friendly relations with powerful rulers such as Avanti.
3. Taxation system.
= In the mahajanapadas, taxes were collected in cash or kind. They were used for the maintenance of the army, to run the administration, build forts and create public welfare utilities such as roads, wells and canals. The farmers paid one-sixth of their total produce as taxes. The craftsmen and the herders paid taxes in kind.
4. Features of mahajanapada.
= The main features of the mahajanapadas were -
i) The rulers maintained a big standing army to protect their kingdom. The soldiers were given salaries in the form of coins such as the punch-marked coins, or the karshapana.
ii) Taxes were collected in cash or kind to maintain army and run the administration.
iii) The farmers paid one-sixth of their total produce as taxes.
iv) The administrative system of the mahajanapadas were both republics and monarchies.
IV. Match the columns.
=
|
1. Rajgriha |
a. copper and iron ore deposits. [3] |
|
2. Ajatsatru |
b. bigger jana. [5] |
|
3. Chota Nagpur |
c. capital of Magadh. [1] |
|
4. Magadh |
d. assassinated Bimbisar. [2] |
|
5. janapada |
e. strongest mahajanapada. [4] |
V. State whether true or false.
1. Kosala was the capital of Magadh. [F]
2. Patliputra was located at the confluence of the Ganga and the son rivers. [T]
3. The first Buddhist council is believed to be held at Rajgriha around 487 BCE. [T]
4. Kuru and Panchala mahajanapada were subjugated by Ajatsatru. [F]
5. Buddha and Mahavira were contemporary of Bimbisar. [T]
6. Mahapadma Nanda was the last ruler of the Nanda Dynasty. [F]