The rise of the Magadha Kingdom (600 to 300 BC)

The rise of the Magadha Kingdom (600 to 300 BC)

PGW and NBPW

Painted Grey Ware (PGW) (1000-700 BC) was finely made of well-levigated clay on a wheel. It is typically grey in color, thin in section and painted with black or red geometric patterns. The limited range of shapes includes a flat-based convex-sided dish, a small hemispherical bowl, medium and large flat-based straight-sided bowls and a vase (lota) with a straight-sided body, sharp carination at the shoulder and a straight neck. PGW represents the deluxe ware in a mixed ceramic assemblage of various fabrics and manufacture. These ceramic assemblages have been found in the Ghaggar and Indo-Gangetic regions and belong to the Early Iron Age in India.The appearance of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) (600- 200 BC) marked the beginning of the second phase of urbanisation in India. This was a very glossy and shin) type of pottery made of very tine and hard fabric. It is technically the finest Pottery of the time, with a brilliantly burnished dressing almost of the quality of a quality of a glaze in colour from jet black to a deep grey or metallic blue and iron. Shreds of NBPW have been found from the Gangetic plains lo the northern Deccan.

 The Mahajanapadas

About 6th century BC, iron implements began to be used widely. As iron implements helped clear the dense forests of the Gangetic plains, civilization expanded eastwards. The new agricultural tools and implements improved the knowledge of cultivation.This helped in the production of surplus food grains, which could be collected by the Kings to meet their military and administrative needs. Establishment of an agrarian economy enabled the people to lead a settled life, to stick to their land, and also to expand at the cost of the neighbouring virgin areas. Around this time, sixteen Mahajanapadas or kingdoms rose to pre-imminence in India. According to Anguttara Nikaya, they were –

Kashi. Kosala, Anga. Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja. These Mahajana padas were either monarchical or republican in character. The Mahajanapadas of Anga, Kashi,Kosala, Chedi, Vatsa, Matsya, Shursen, Ashmak, Avanti, Gandhar and Magadha were ruled by kings or monarchs. The kings in these states had the supreme authority. The Mahajanapadas of Vrijji, Malla, Kuru. Panchal and Kamboj were republican states and so were other smaller states like Lichhavi, Shakya, Koliya, Bhagga and Moriya. These repub-lican states had a Ganaparishad or an Assembly of senior and responsible citizens. This Gana-parishad had the supreme authority in the state.

Mahajanapadas                                                Capitals  

I. Gandhara                                        Taxila

2. Matsya                                            Virat Nagari

3. Kamboja                                         Rajput

4. Vajjis                                                Vaishali

5. Asmaka                                           Potna

6. Anga                                                                 Champa

7. Vatsa                                                Kaushambi                         

 8. Kashi                                                Banaras

9. Avanti                                              Ujjain

10. Kosala                                            Sravasti

11. Shurasena                                    Mathura

 12. Magadha                                     Girivraja

13. Chedi                                             Shuktimati

14. Panchala                                       Ahichhatra

15. Malla                                              Kushinara (North).

16. Kurus                                             Hastinapur Kampilya (South)

All the administrative decisions were taken by this Parishad.Again the republic were basically of 2 types:

(a) the republics comprising a single tribe like those of the Sakyas, the Kollis and the Mallas.

(b) the republics comprising a number of tribes or the republics of confederacy like the Vrijjis.

Magadhan Ascendancy Of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti were more powerful. They fought amongst themselves for political pre-eminence for about a hundred years. Ultimately, Magadha, under the leadership of Bimbisar’a(542 BC - 493 BC) and Ajatshatru (493 BC - 461 BC) emerged victorious. The victory of Magadha was a victory for the monarchical system, which was now firmly established in the Ganges plain.

Magadhan ascendancy began with Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty. He married the princesses of Kosala, Vaishali and Madia, which helped him in his expansionist policy. His one and only conquest was that of Anga. He also gained a part of Kashi as (he dowry in his marriage with the sister of King Prasenajit of Kosala. Bimbisara was murdered by his own son. Ajatasatru (492-460 BC). He defeated Prasenajit, mar-ried his daughter, and annexed Kashi. Ajatasatru was succeeded by Udayin (460-444 BC), who founded the new capital at Pataliputra.

The Haryanka dynasty was succeeded by the Sisunaga dynasty, which destroyed the power of Avanti and incorporated it in the Magadhan empire. Thus, the 100-year-old rivalry between Avanti and Magadha came to an end.

The Sisunagas were succeeded by the Nandas. Who annexed Kalinga to the empire. Mahapadma Nanda was the most important king of his dynasty. The Nandas are said to have checked Alexander’s army from advancing towards Magadha. Their rule was supplanted by that of the Mauryas,