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(i) Kashi – This kingdom was situated in Varanasi and the region surrounding it in present day is in Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi was its capital, which was famous for its prosperity, education and craft. Description of this state’s might and political ambitions is found in several Buddhist Jatak stories,

(ii) Ang – This kingdom was situated in Munger and Bhagalpur districts of present day Bihar. Champa was its capital, which was a famous centre of trade and civilization at that time. Later on, Magadh had occupied this kingdom. River Champawati flowed between Magadh and Ang.

Following was the difference between monarchy and republican system of governance:

1. Monarchy governance system – In this, system, all powers were centralized in one person which passed on to the next in the family after him. 

2. Republican governance system – In this, system, the rule was conducted by the Ganpati (King) or the Council whose representatives were elected by the people

Mathura, Vrindavan and the its surrounding area in present day Uttar Pradesh was included in this kingdom. Mathura was its capital. The Puran and Mahabharata have described the kings of this kingdom as belonging to Yadu or Yadav clan. Lord Krishna was bom in Yadav clan of this kingdom.

1. Chedi – It was situated in the west of present day Bundelkhand. Shaktimati, which is called Satyawati in Buddhist writings, was its capital. Rigveda has also described about Chedi clan. King Shishupal of this kingdom is mentioned in the Mahabharata. A branch of this clan was established in Kalinga. 

2. Kuru – This kingdom was situated around the present day Delhi. Indraprastha was its capital. Hastinapur was another famous city of this state.

Following was the administrative condition of the kingdoms in the beginning 

1. Every kingdom had a capital and many capitals were fortified also 

2. The rulers of the kingdoms maintained a regular army 

3. The soldiers were paid salary for entire year. Some part of payment was done in the form of ‘Ahat’ coins.

Reason for the decline of Nand clan was accumulation of wealth by Nand rulers and excessive tax imposed on the people for maintaining a huge army.

A ruler named Ajatshatru extended special contribution in the development and prosperity of Magadh kingdom.

Chandragupta established Mauryan clan in Magadh.

In the sixth century BCE, Indraprastha, Hastinapur, Kaushambhi and Benaras were the major cities established on the banks of river Ganga and Yamuna.

Taxila University was the major centre of education in the 6th century BCE.

Gandhar kingdom was located in eastern Afghanistan.

1. Varanasi 

2. Council 

3. Ruler 

4. Bimbisara, Ajatshatru 

5. Vyas

(b) Shishunaag clam

(a) Present Ujjain

Answer is: (d) Malla

Magadh kingdom had political, geographical and strategic importance because it had been formed by the merger of various other kingdoms. The rulers of Magadh also played an important role in the development of Magadh kingdom and in making it prosperous. They had formed a massive army and had given birth to a systematic administrative system. As a result, in 200 years between fourth and sixth century BCE, Magadh (modem Bihar) had become an important and powerful Empire.

Bimbisar, Ajatshatru, Shishunag, Mahapadmananda and Ghanananda are included in the main rulers of Magadh.

Answer is: (d) Ashmak

Janapad’ means the place where people live.

Answer is: (c) 16

Names of major kingdoms mainly include- Matasya, Kashi, Kausal, Ang, Magadh, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchal, Shoorsen, Ashmak, Avanti, Gandhar and Kamboj.

Matasya kingdom existed in Rajasthan during the Mahabharata era.

Bigger janpads merged smaller janpads into their states and they became kingdoms.

Buddhism – Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. His childhood name was Siddhartha. He was born in 563 BCE in Lumbini near Kapilvastu in the terai of Nepal. At the age of 29 years, he left his house to attain knowledge. He preached to adopt the middle path. The preaching and teachings of Buddha are known by the name of Buddhism. 

There are two branches of Buddhism-

(i) Hinayana 

(ii) Mahayana

In India, almost 0.8% people follow Buddhism. Teachings/Sermons of Buddhism Following are the major teachings and sermons of Buddhism-

(i) Etemal Truth – Buddha has suggested four eternal truths in context to worldly sufferings

1. Human and non-human life is full of sorrows 

2. There is a reason for every sorrow 

3. End of sorrows is possible. 

4. ‘Dukh Nirodh Marg’ is the path to shun all sorrows.

(ii) Eight – Fold Path – Buddha advised to follow the eight-fold path to become free from all the sorrows. 

These eight paths are:

1. Samyak drishti 

2. Samyak sankalp 

3. Samyak vaani 

4. Samyak karma 

5. Samyak ajivika 

6. Samyak vyayaam 

7. Samyak smriti, and 

8. Samyak Samadhi.

(iii) Principles (Sheel) – Buddha empha – sized on following ten sheels for the end of all sorrows, i.e. for attaining Nirvana

1. Truth 

2. Non – violence 

3. Asteya (not stealing) 

4. Aparigrah (not keeping any type of property) 

5. Not consuming alcohol 

6. Not eating food untimely 

7. Not sleeping on a comfortable bed 

8. Not accumulating wealth 

9. Keeping away from women 

10.Remaining away from dance and music.

It was mandatory for the Grihasths to follow five principles and for the monks to follow all the ten principles.

Jainism – Rishabh Dev was the founder of Jainism. Mahavir Swami was the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism. The founders of Jainism are known as Tirthankaras. Mahavir Swami was bom in 540 BCE in Kundagram (Vaishali). At the age of 30 years, he adopted the life of an ascetic after the death of his parents. After meditating rigidly for 12 years, he attained knowledge. 

There are two major branches of Jainism

1. Digambar 

2. Swetambar. In India, almost 0.4% people follow Jainism

Major teachings/sermons of Jainism Following are the major teachings and sermons of Jainism:

1. The world and life is the basis of sorrows.

2. The ultimate objective of life is to attain salvation. 

3. Jainism believes in karma, the fruits of karma is rebirth. 

4. Due to karma only, the life adopts a physical shape and falls into the trap of relationships. 

5. Triratna is the path to avoid the sins of karma. 

These triratnas are –

• Samyak darshan 
• Samyak gyan 
• Samyak acharan 

6. It is mandatory to follow the five mahavratas in order to adopt triratna – 

• Non-violence 
• Truthfulness 
• Asteya (not stealing) 
• Aparigraha, and 
• Brahmacharya 

7. Jainism does not believe in God. Jainism believes in soul

Answer is: (a) Viratnagar

Economic prosperity emerged due to the increase in agricultural productivity. In course of time trade also developed. New culture and civilizations were bom which positively impacted the development of cities. Due tc this, the cities developed.

Due to the use of tools made of iron, agricultural productivity increased due to which enough quantity of food grains became available to humans.

Answer is: (b) Shravasti

In the kingdom system, both the monarchy and republican systems were prevalent for the purpose of governance. Various elements such as the king, council of ministers (cabinet), council, and army and police, judicial system, taxation and income and expenditure provisions were present for the implementation of this system.

(a) Anguttar Nikay

Following is a detailed description of the major monarchy and republican kingdoms of the sixth century BCE:

1. Monarchical kingdoms:

1. Kausal – This kingdom was spread in Awadh area of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya is described as the capital in the Ramayana. It was ruled by Dilip, Raghu, Dashrath and Sriram of Suryawanshi clan in the ancient times. Buddhist scriptures describe Shravasti as its capital. 

2. Magadh – Areas of Gaya and Patna districts of Bihar were included in its area. The oldest capital of this kingdom was Giriraja and later on it was shifted to Rajgrih and Patliputra. 

3. Vatsa – This was situated in the south of the Ganga and west of Kashi and Kausal. Kaushambhi, its capital, was famous for trade. It is approximately 48 kms away from Allahabad. During the period of Lord Buddha, King Udayan ruled the state. After his death, it was forcefully merged with Magadh. 

4. Avanti – The present day Ujjain and part of the Narmada valley formed this kingdom. Ujjain was the capital of its northern part and Mahismati was the capital of its southern part. It was ultimately merged with Magadh later.

2. Republican kingdoms :

1. Vajji – This kingdom was situated in the north of river Ganga up to the hills of Nepal. The river Gandak formed its boundaries on the west and it was spread up to the banks of rivers Koshi and Mahanadi. It was a federal kingdom consisting of eight small kingdoms. Vaishali was its capital. Later on, the king of Magadh merged it into Magadh. 

2. Malla – This kingdom was situated in Kushinara and Pawa area near Patna district of present day Bihar and in Gorakhpur and Deoria districts of present day Uttar Pradesh. This kingdom was divided into two parts. One part had Kushinara as its capital and the other’s capital was Pawa. Mallas were famous for their courage and love for wars. It was ultimately conquered by Magadh. 

3. Panchal – This kingdom was situated in present day Badaun and Farrukhabad, Ruhelkhand and Central Doab region. Ahichhatra was the capital of northern Panchal and Kampilya was the capital of southern Panchal. 

4. Kamboj – This kingdom was situated in the north-western part of India. Rajpur was its capital. Dwarka was the major city of this state. It was initially a kingdom and later on it became a republic.

Mahapadmananda and Ghanananda were the major rulers of Nand clan. These rulers organized a large army and gave birth to an organized administrative system and made Patliputra the centre of political activity of the entire northern India. Shortly, Patliputra became a centre of politics, education and culture. Nand rulers had also implemented a new system of weighing and measurement.

Following were the reasons for the importance of Magadh kingdom:

1. Some parts of Magadh had dense jungles, where elephants were found and they could be caught for use in the army, 

2. Magadh was surrounded by the rivers Ganga and Sone. These rivers were important source of transportation, irrigation and of drinking water for and fertility of land also 

3. Reserves of iron ore were there in Magadha and iron could be extracted from the mines here and various strong tools and weapons could be made from it. 

4. The capitals of Magadh were located at strategically important places.

Following is the list of commodities of ancient India which were in demand in other countries-

Muslin, chintz and embroidered cloth, iron and steel products, tobacco, indigo, shawls, silk and silken clothes, hot spices, etc.

Following is a detailed description of the system of governance during the kingdom period :

1. King – The ruler was called Ganpati or King. Usually, he was elected and he worked for the welfare of the people. 

2. Cabinet – The Cabinet assisted in governance by advising the Ganpati or the King on various matters. It was considered most important unit of government. 

3. Council – It was like present day Lok Sabha. Its members were elected by the people. The Ganpati and the cabinet informed the Council about governance. Ganpati and cabinet also participated in the meetings held in the Council. 

4. Army and Police – Army and its chief were responsible for the protection of the kingdom from outside. During the period of war, the public fully cooperated with the army. The Police System was maintained for taking care of law and order in the capital and big cities. 

5. Justice – Republicans had a good system of justice. Lower courts, after processing the case against the guilty, submitted it to the higher courts, which reviewed the case and if found innocent set free the person. The king was the highest authority. 

6. Taxation system and Income- Expenditure – The rulers of the kingdoms collected taxes in a regular manner. Agriculture, trade, etc. were the sources of tax income. Apart from these, the state also obtained income from forests, mines, etc. by which the expenses of the council of ministers, army and police were met.

In ancient times, Indian goods were in great demand in foreign countries. Such countries included Malacca, Canton, Muskat, Alexendria, etc.

Following is the list of sixteen kingdoms, their capitals and the present day places where these kingdoms were situated in the sixth century BCE-