The Janapadas were the major kingdoms of Vedic India. During that period, Aryans were the most powerful tribes and were called ‘Janas’. This gave rise to the term Janapada where Jana means ‘people’ and Pada means ‘foot’.
By the 6th century BCE, there were approximately 22 different Janapadas. Socio-economic developments chiefly due to the use of iron tools in agriculture and military, along with religious and political developments led to the rise of the Mahajanapadas from small kingdoms or Janapadas. The people gained a strong allegiance to the territory or Janapada they belonged to rather than the tribe or the jana. This period is also known as the era of second urbanisation, first being the Harappan civilisation.
During that period, the political centre shifted from the west of the Indo-Gangetic plains to the eastern side of it. This was due to better fertility of the land because of more rainfall and rivers. Also, this region was closer to iron production centres.
Which were the 16 Mahajanapadas?
List of 16 Mahajanapadas that arose before the rise of Buddhism in India:
The list below provides you with the names of 16 Mahajanapadas:
- Kasi
- Kosala
- Anga
- Magadha
- Vajji
- Malla
- Chedi/Cheti
- Vatsa
- Kuru
- Panchala
- Matsya
- Surasena/Shurasena
- Assaka
- Avanti
- Gandhara
- Kamboja
In the course of time, smaller or weak kingdoms, and the republics were eliminated by the stronger rulers. Vajji and Malla were Gana-Sanghas. The Gana-Sanghas had a government by assembly and within the assembly they had oligarchy.
In the 6th century only 4 powerful kingdoms remained:
- Magadha (Important rulers: Bimbisara, Ajatashatru)
- Avanti (Important ruler: Pradyota)
- Kosala (Important ruler: Prasenjit)
- Vatsa (Important ruler: Udayana)