Bihar’s long and illustrious history extends back to the birth of human civilization and parallels the formation of the first Sanatana Dharma tales. Bihar’s history may be traced back to the start of human civilization when the Sanatana Dharma tradition’s earliest myths and practices were established. It functioned as the capital of a strong monarchy for thousands of years and as a cultural centre under the patronage of other countries. According to some historians, the term “Bihar” stems from the Sanskrit word “viharas,” which refers to the final resting place of a Buddhist monastery. However, the phrase was coined in the 12th century by the state’s Muslim rulers.
What is the present location of Patliputra?
Patliputra holds great importance in the mediaeval history of Bihar. Patliputra rose to popularity under the Maurya dynasty’s reign, eventually becoming one of the world’s most famous towns. Megasthenes, a Greek diplomat, adventurer, and historian, stated that it was one of the earliest towns and cities to have a highly effective system of local self-government during the Mauryan Empire.
Numerous archaeological excavations have been conducted in the region surrounding modern-day Patna. When archaeologists excavated the territory around Patna in the early twentieth century, they discovered substantial evidence of gigantic castle walls replete with supporting wood trusses. We now know that following the destruction of Pataliputra by the Palas invasion, Sher Shah Suri (1538–1545) rebuilt the city and renamed it Pana.
Bihar is a popular tourist destination due to its extensive forest cover and plenty of ancient historical monuments.
Bihar consists of three distinct regions: north, south, and east.
Bihar is separated into three distinct regions, each having its distinct history and culture to offer visitors. Magadh, Mithila, and Bhojpur are the three cities in dispute. Apart from religious epics, ancient Bihar originated several other ancient Indian works.
Magadha in ancient times was a centre of learning and civilization, and it continues to be so now. This region of India is home to the Maurya kingdom, one of India’s most powerful imperial dynasties, and the origins of two prominent religions, Buddhism and
Jainism.
Magadha had risen to become the epicentre of political activity in northern India and was the most powerful of all Ancient Indian kingdoms at the time of its demise. Rajagriha was the capital of the Magadha kingdom. From 544 BC until 492 BC, Bimbisara governed the kingdom of Magadha for 52 years. His son Ajatshatru (492–460 BC) imprisoned him and later assassinated him.
While the Magadha empires, including the Maurya and Gupta empires, were in control, a sizable chunk of the Indian subcontinent was united. Pataliputra, near modern-day Patna, was a critical political, military, and commercial hub for Indian civilization during the ancient and classical eras of Indian history.
Mediaeval dynasties which were present in Bihar
The mediaeval history of Bihar is incomplete without the various dynasties present in the state of Bihar. These dynasties were,
- Slave Dynasty
- Khilji Dynasty
- Tughlaq Dynasty
- Noohani Dynasty
- Cher Dynasty
- Bhojpur Dynasty
- Sur Dynasty
- Mughal Dynasty
Bihar mediaeval history had Mughals as the last rulers.
The United Kingdom’s East India Corporation was a British company that engaged in the East Indies.
Both the Mughals and the Nawabs of Bengal were effectively forced to relinquish control of territories that comprised Bengal province at the time, which today comprises Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, as a result of the Battle of Buxar (1764), which took place near Buxar, approximately 115 kilometres north-west of Patna.
The Diwani Powers
In the early nineteenth century, the British East India Company was granted Diwani powers, or the authority to oversee the collection and administration of taxes in the provinces of Bengal and Oudh, which today include a sizable chunk of Uttar Pradesh. Shah Alam, India’s sovereign Mughal monarch at the time, bestowed the Diwani powers on his subjects. Patna, Bihar, grew into one of the most prominent commercial and trade centres in eastern India under the rule of the British East India Company, second only to Kolkata in terms of significance.
Pre-independence Bihar
Bihar mediaeval history was glorious as the land prospered till the British came to the country. People were annoyed with the British atrocities, and therefore, numerous residents of Bihar took part in India’s First War of Independence (1857), popularly referred to as the Sepoy Mutiny or, by some historians, the Sepoy Rebellion.
Conclusion
Bihar’s history is one of the most diverse in the whole country. Bihar is divided into three distinct regions, each with its unique history and cultural traditions. The mediaeval history of Bihar is quite interesting, with every important dynasty from Mughals to Tughlaq being a part of it. The medieval history of Bihar holds great importance in competitive exams such as BPSC and SSC. We hope you learned a lot today from the above article.