Rise of Magadh
Initially, Kasi and Kosala were the most powerful and rich Mahajanapadas but over the period Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada.
The reasons behind Magadha to emerged as the strongest Mahajanapada are as follows -
- Magadha Capital Rajgriha was strategically located. It was surrounded by five mountains which in turn safeguarded the capital.
- Magadha rulers used the abundant River channels for trade and commerce.
- Magadha was densely forested which provided good quality timber.
- Magadha had huge reservoir of Iron (Chhotanagpur) with which good quality of tools were made and hence Magadha was able to maintain a very strong army.
- Magadha rulers were unorthodox and enterprising in nature. (As per the Dharmashastra, trade through liquid and trade of liquid is prohibited. Also, the interest on loan is undesirable. But Magadha rulers did not pay and heed to these)
- A series of competent rulers.
Magadha came into prominence under the leadership of Bimbisara of Haryanka dynasty. He began the policy of conquest and aggression which was followed by this successors which ended with the Kalinga war of Ashoka.
Gradually, Magadha Mahajanapada emerged as the first empire of the Indian sub-continent.
Dynasties related to Magadha empire
- Haryanka dynasty (554BC - 412 BC)
- Shishunaga dynasty (412 BC - 344 BC)
- Nanda dynasty (344 BC- 321 BC)
- Maurya dynasty (321 BC - 185 BC)
- Post Maurya period
- Gupta dynasty (319 AD - 515 AD)
- Post Gupta period
Dynasties of Post Maurya period -
Indigenous dynasties
- Shunga dynasty (185 BC)
- Kanva dynasty (75 BC)
- Satavahana dynasty (emerged in 2nd century BC, consolidated their power in 1st century AD)
Outsiders dynasties
- Indo-Greeks (165 BC)
- Shakas (90 BC)
- Parthians (25 AD)
- Kushana (65 AD)
Sangam Age dynasties in South India (3rd century BC - 6th century AD)
- Cheras
- Cholas
- Pandayas
Post Sangam Age (replacing Cholas)
- Pallavas (early 7th century AD)
- Chalukyas (Middle of 6th century AD)
Imperial Cholas/Mainline Chola (by the end of 9th Century AD)
Post Gupta period in North & Central India
- Pushyabhuti dynasty (early 7th century AD)
By 750 AD, Pushyabhuti dynasty disappeared and three new dynasties appeared
- Pala dynasty (in the East)
- Pratihara-Gurjara dynasty (in the West)
- Rashtrakuta dynasty (in South-West and Central India)
Post Gupta period in North & Central India
- Pushyabhuti dynasty (early 7th century AD)
Previous Article - Rise of 16 Mahajanapadas
Next Article - Haryanka Dynasty
Notes on other subjects
Optional Notes
Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own.
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