Mahajanapadas and Foreign Invasions

Introduction

From the 6th century onwards, the widespread usage of iron in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar created the conditions for the formation of vast territorial states. Peasants were able to produce more owing to the new agricultural implements and tools, while princes were able to collect the surplus to meet military and administrative needs. 

The ‘Janapadas’ began to give way to ‘Mahajanapadas,’ as noted in the ‘Anguttara Nikaya’, the Buddhist literature, the land between the Narmada and the Himalayas was split into 16 Mahajanapadas. 

These 16 mahajanapadas names are Gandhara, Kamboj, Panchala, Kuru, Avanti, Chedi, Surasena, Matsya, Vatsa, Malla, Koshala, Anga, Vajjis, Kashi, Magadha and Asmaka. Out of these, Kosala, Magadha, Vatsa, Avanti, and Avadh were more prominent.

Hereditary monarchs were the rulers of some of these. However, others were ruled by oligarchical states or Republicans. Out of the non-monarchical clans, the prominent one was the Vajjis confederacy. 

The rulers of Magadha, Vatsa, Kosala, and Avanti had matrimonial ties. However, fighting continued with one another for supremacy. Ultimately the Magadhan kingdom came out as the most powerful and succeeded in founding an empire.

Persian Conquests and Foreign Invasions of India

During the sixth century BC, it was impossible for northwestern India to match with the other parts of India as they were completely isolated from considerable developments taking place. 

Before 530 BC, the Achaemenid emperor of Persia, Cyrus, crossed Hindukush Mountains shortly before 530 BC to collect tributes from the tribal communities of Gandhara, the trans- Indus region, and Kamboja. 

The influential Achaemenid emperor of Persia Darius-I seized a part of Sindh and Punjab during Buddha’s lifetime. Gadara, a province that sent teak, according to the Behistun Inscription from 519 BC. Gandhara is mentioned by Herodotus, (the famous Greek historian and father of history), as the 20th satrapy or province, the most powerful.

In the years 486-465 BC, the provinces supplied mercenaries to the Persian armies battling the Greeks. Alexander entered the easternmost region of Darius’ empire and added this glorious nation to his conquests. In terms of Imperial pretensions, the Persian Empire served as a model for the Mauryas. The use of the Kharosthi script, adapting Aramaic writing from the right, in the North-West may have been a remnant of rule.

Alexander’s Invasion

In 326 BC, Alexander invaded India; except for Porus, who fought Alexander in the famous Battle of Hydaspes (on the banks of the Jhelum), all other kings surrendered peacefully and easily around the same time. Ambhi (Omphis), the king of Taxila, submitted to Alexander. Alexander later restored Porus to power after being impressed by him.

Alexander’s army refused to go any further when he reached Beas, forcing him to retreat. On the northern banks of the Beast, he erected 12 massive stone altars to mark the furthest point of his advance. Alexander spent 19 months in India before dying in Babylon in 323 BC.

• Alexander’s invasion opened up four distinct lines of communication, three of which were land-based and one of which was sea-based, exposing India to Europe
• As a result of this cultural exchange, Gandhara developed a cosmopolitan school of art that was characterized by sensuous art and lasted until the Gupta period
• It also paved the way for Chandragupta Maurya’s unification of north India by weakening the small states

However, the expedition’s immediate effect was the annihilation of tribes that had survived from earlier times.

Conclusion

This chapter gives knowledge about all 16 Mahajanapadas of the Indian subcontinent and Foreign Invasions of India .These Mahajanapadas are different from Janapadas. The ‘Janapadas’ began to give a way to ‘Mahajanapadas,’ as noted in the ‘Anguttara Nikaya’, the Buddhist literature, the land between the Narmada and the Himalayas was split into 16 Mahajanapadas. We got to know about the importance of these mahajanapadas. We also come to know about Foreign Invasions of India and invaders like Cyrus, Derius-I and Alexander .We come to know Porus, who fought Alexander in the famous battle of Hydaspes bravely and lost the battle. Alexander was impressed by this and leave the Porus alive. He fought bravely while all other kings surrendered peacefully and easily around the same time.