Rise of Kingdoms and Republics
ICSE Class 6 · History & Civics · Chapter 7
What this chapter covers
- Janapadas and Mahajanapadas
- The powerful kingdoms: Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha
- Republics (ganas)
- Rise of Magadha
- Rule of the Nandas
- Alexander's invasion
- Chandragupta Maurya: early life
Key points
- A janapada was the land where a tribe settled; a mahajanapada was a large and powerful janapada. Old books name sixteen of them.
- Iron tools, more farmland and extra grain helped kingdoms grow around 600 BCE.
- Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha were the four most powerful kingdoms.
- Ganas such as the Vajjis, Mallas and Shakyas were ruled by assemblies of leaders, not by kings.
- Magadha rose because of rich soil, iron, elephants, rivers, safe capitals and able rulers.
- Bimbisara used marriages and conquest; Ajatashatru defeated Kosala and the Vajjis and built a fort at Pataligrama.
- The Nandas built a huge army and great wealth, but their heavy taxes made them unpopular.
- Alexander defeated Porus at the Jhelum in 326 BCE but turned back at the Beas.
- Chandragupta Maurya, guided by Chanakya, overthrew the last Nanda king around 321 BCE.
Questions answered
What is a janapada?
A janapada is the land where a jana, or tribe, settled down for good.
Name the four most powerful kingdoms among the mahajanapadas, with one capital each.
Vatsa (Kaushambi), Avanti (Ujjayini), Kosala (Shravasti) and Magadha (Rajagriha, later Pataliputra).
How was a gana different from a kingdom?
A kingdom was ruled by one king who usually inherited the throne. A gana was ruled by a group of leaders who discussed matters in an assembly and decided together.
Give two reasons why Magadha became so powerful.
Any two: fertile soil, iron ore for weapons and tools, elephants for the army, rivers for transport, capitals that were easy to defend, and able rulers.
Name the two ways in which Bimbisara made Magadha stronger.
He made friends through marriage alliances with Kosala and the Lichchhavis, and he conquered Anga.
How did Ajatashatru defeat the Vajji confederacy?
His minister Vassakara turned the Lichchhavi leaders against one another, and then Magadha attacked the divided gana.
Why were the Nandas unpopular?
They taxed the people very heavily to pay for their huge army, and the last king, Dhana Nanda, was proud and greedy.
Why did Alexander turn back from the Beas river?
His tired soldiers, far from home and afraid of the huge Nanda army, refused to march any further.