NORTHERN INDIA: AGE OF THREE EMPIRES 800 TO 1000 republic.

MAHAJANPADAS: 2. Gandhara
Capital: Taxila
Modern Location: Rawalpindi Pakistan
Significance: It was mentioned in Atharva Veda. The people were
highly trained in art of war. It was significant for
International commercial Activirties.
3. Kuru
Capital: Indraprastha
Modern Location: Meerut and south eastern Haryana
Significance: The area around Kurukshetra was apparently the
site for Kuru Mahajanpada. It was shifted to a
republic form of governance.
4. Saursena / Shurasena
Capital: Mathura
Modern Location: Western UP
16 Mahajanpadas Capital, modern location and significance Significance: This was a centre of Krishna worship at the time of
1. Kamboja Megasthenes. Also, there was a dominant follower
Capital: Rajpura of buddha here.
Modern Location: Rajori and Hajra (Pakisthan)
Significance: It is situated in present day Kashmir and 5. Matsya:
Hindukush.
Capital: Viratnagar
Several literary sources mention that Kamboja was
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Modern Location: Jaipur 10. Vatsa
Significance: It was situated to the west of the Panchalas and Capital: Kausambi
south of the Kurus.
Modern Location: Allahabad
6. Avanti
Significance: 1. Vatsa is also known as Vamsa under monarchical
Capital: Ujjainor Mahishmati
form of Governance.
Modern Location: Malawa and MP
2. It was a central city for economic activities with
Significance: Rise of Buddhism
prosperous trade and business
7. Ashmaka or Asaka
3. The ruler Udayana made Buddhism a state
Capital: Potana/ Paithan
religion located around Allahabad
Modern Location: Bank of Godawari
11. Chedi/Chetiya
Significance: It was located on the bank of Godavari Capital: Sothivati
8. Panchala Modern Location: Bundelkhand
Capital: Ahichchatra and Kampilaya Significance: This was mentioned in Rigveda
Modern Location: Western UP 12. Malla
Significance: Its capital for northern panchala was Ahichchatra Capital: Kusinara/Pava
and Kampilaya for its southern region shifted from Modern Location: Deoria and UP
monarchy to republic
Significance: referred in Buddhist and Jain texts and
9. Kosala
Mahabharata. Malla was republic.
Capital: Sravasti
13. Kasi
Modern Location: Eastern UP
Capital: Varanasi
Significance: It was located in Modern Awadh region of UP
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Modern Location: Varansi A. Capital - Champa
Significance: It was located in Varanasi that named by the B. Modern Location: Bihar and West Bengal (Munger and
confluence of two river Varuna and Asi mentioned in Bhagalpur)

the Matsya Purana. C. Significance: referred in Mahabharata and Atharva Veda.

14. Magadha: During the rule of Bimbisara, it was taken over by

A. Capital: Girivraja / Rajagriha Magadha Empire

B. Modern Location: Bihar close to Anga Gaya and Patana Mahajanpadas and forms of Government

C. Significance: It was mentioned in the Atharva Veda as Semi Republican Mahajanpadas

Brahmnical habitation. Divided by river Champa. Vajji, Malla, Panchala

It became centre of Jainism and the first Monarchical

Buddhist council was held in Rajagriha Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Chedi, Vatsa, Matsya, Surasena,
Avanti, Gandhara, Kuru, Kamboja and Assaka.
15. Vajji:
Changes in Agriculture-Use of Iron Plough share, Grew paddy
A. Capital: Vaishali
Political Structure:
B. Modern Location: Bihar
1. It had Fort and fortification wall with regular army and
C. Significance: 1. It followed league of republican tribal states
maintained by collected tax.
under the leadership of he Licchavikas centred
2. There was tax on crop of 1/6th known as Bhaga or share. Tax
around the city of Vaishali.
on production made by craftsmen, herders, hunters, traders.
2. Buddhaghosa states that the Vajjika League was constituted of
eight clans 3. Stronger rulers evicted smaller and weaker kingdoms under
3. The Vajjika League was administered by the Vajjika Council, four Powerful kingdoms such as Magadha-Bimbisara,
which consisted of eighteen members
16. Anga Ajatasattu, Avanti-Pradyota, Kosala-Prasenjit, Vatsa-Udayana

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 later became part of Magadha Kingdom. 7. They combined their forces against Taxiles's neighbour, the
King of Hydaspes, Porus.
8. Porus had to defend his kingdom and chose the perfect spot to
check Alexander's advance.
9. Although he lost the battle, he became the most successful
recorded opponent of Alexander.
10. When asked by Alexander how he wished to be treated, Porus
replied "Treat me as a king would treat another king".
11. Impressed, Alexander indeed treated him like a king, allowing
him to retain his lands.
12. Alexander founded two cities one is Nicaea (Greek for Victory)

The Battle of the Hydaspes (Jhelum) in commemoration of his success.

1. It was fought between Alexander the Great and Porus in May of 13. Another on the other side of the Hydaspes called Alexandria

326 BC. It took place on the banks of river Hydaspes in Punjab. Bucephalus, to honour his faithful horse, which died soon

3. Macedonian army secured a decisive victory over Pauravas and after this battle.

captured Porus. 14. In 326 BC, the army of Alexander approached the boundaries

4. While possessing a much larger army, at the battle, an of the Nanda Empire.

estimated 40,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalries crossed the river. 15. His army, exhausted from the continuous campaigning

5. During this battle, Alexander suffered heavy losses compared to demanded that they should return to the west.

his earlier victories. 16. He ordered the army to march south, along the Indus, securing

6. Alexander formed an alliance with Taxiles (local name Ambhi), the banks of the river as the borders of his empire.

the King of Taxila.

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