Vedic history is divided into Early Vedic and Post-Vedic. The rise of the mahajanapadas, an important feature of the post-Vedic period, is discernible between 1100 to 600 BC. It was from the end of the Vedic period around 1200 to 1000 BC that another shift happened in civilisation. The urban activity migrated from the upper valleys of the Ganga towards the middle as well as lower parts of the Ganga region. As the Buddhist sources produced during this period are the most prolific of the sources recording the rise and activities of mahajanapadas, emphasis is placed on the Buddhist sources. 

16 Mahajanapadas

The concept of land being a physical and political entity was not completely new, given that there are references in the later Vedic texts of ‘janapadas’ simply meaning the land where people set afoot. But between the time lapsed, further complexities in the idea of land and possession arose. It was from this idea of janapadas that the 16 mahajanapadas took place. Most contemporary Buddhist sources claim that there were 16 great territorial states i.e 16 mahajanapadas. 

Janapadas

Though the janapadas had older ties, they still existed simultaneously with the 16 mahajanapadas. The janapadas were smaller territories when compared to the mahajanapadas. The political organisation of the janapadas was also different. They tended to be more clan or tribe-based and practiced oligarchy. The 16 mahajanapadas conversely usually practiced monarchy. Some of the Janapadas were:

• Madhyadesha
• Udichya
• Dakshina

Mahajanapadas

The general list of these 16 majanapadas is:

• Kasi (capital- Benaras) was the earliest and the most powerful mahajanapada.
• Kosala (north, in Nepal) has three prominent cities- Ayodhya, Savatthi, and Saketa.
• Malla (divided into two regions by Kakutya) had the capital cities of Kusinara and Pawa located in Uttar Pradesh.
• Kuru (Delhi) had the capital of Indraprastha mentioned in the epic of Mahabharata. 
• Kamboja (Peshawar region and SE of Hindukush) had the capital city of Rajapura.
• Chedi (Eastern region of Bundelkhand) with the capital of Suktimati.
• Panchala (Rohilkhand area, divided into two areas) had twin capitals of Ahichhatra (North Panchala) and Kampilya (South Panchala).
• Matsya (Bairat, located in Jaipur)
• Vatsa (Allahabad, capital city Kaushambi)
• Shurasena ( Near Yamuna, the capital city was Mathura)
• Gandhara (Peshawar and areas of Rawalpindi)
• Anga (eastern regions of Magadha, the capital city was Champa)
• Assaka (Near Godavari and the capital city was Potali)
• Magadha- this was located between Gaya and Patna and the early capital was Rajgriha. The Magadha would become an important mahajanapada out of the 16 mahajanapadas. The political rivalry and the resulting socio-economic and historical changes that Magadha would have on Indian history are notable. 
• Avanti (Ujjain and Mahishmati)
• Some janapadas like the Vajji and the Lichchavis were notable exceptions amongst the smaller janapadas. They were considered to be powerful enough to be mentioned in the list of the 16 Mahajanapadas. The Vajji was a confederacy of 8 clans, chief amongst whom was the Lichchavis. 

Mahajanapadas in Later Periods

In the course and series of battles, many of the mahajanapadas would rise and fall. Some would be observed while some fade in time. By the end of the 6th century, Magadha would reign supreme and provide the political context of the rise of the Nandas and eventually the Mauryas. 

Conclusion

In the ancient period of the Indian subcontinent’s history, civilisation emerged from the northern and northwestern regions and gradually migrated eastwards. The period from 1500 BC to 500 BC is known as the Vedic Period or the Vedic history. It was from the end of the Vedic period around 1200 to 1000 BC that another shift happened in civilisation. As the center of the activity shifted towards ‘majjhima desha’ (lower-middle Ganga Valley regions), advancements in pottery, socio-religious changes, and evolution of commerce and trade provided the perfect ground for the emergence of territorial regions (16 mahajanapadas).