The Emergence Of Mahajanapadas From Janapadas

Second urbanization means the emergence of sixteen Mahajanapadas from Janapadas during ancient India in the period of 500 to 600 BC in the Indian subcontinent. This was the time when agricultural improvement saw a hike in the middle of Gangetic plains. Cultivation methods like wet rice cultivation started to give you more products than any other crop during the time and therefore gave birth to more necessary agriculture surplus. The growth of crafts and trades in the middle of the drawing population in the Indian subcontinent was one of the major reasons for the emergence of towns and settlements in the Gangetic plains. Different types of towns also came into the picture where political and administrative centers were also put up such as Rajgriha, Shruti, Kaushambi, and Champa. There were centers and channels present for trade and commerce such as Ujjain, Taxila, etc. The formation of Mahajanapadas was the second urbanization whereas the Harappan civilization was the first.

About Mahajanapadas And Janapadas

The Janapadas were known as the major kingdoms of the Vedic Indian subcontinent. There were around 22 different Janapadas during the 6th century B.C. During this time the development of iron in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand went very high which made the Janapadas more powerful which later turned into the Mahajanapadas in the Indian subcontinent. During the time 600 BC to 325 BC, there were a total of 16 in the Indian subcontinent.

From Janapadas To Mahajanapadas During The Formation Of States And Urbanization In The Indian Subcontinent

Some important features and characteristics of the transition from Janapadas to Mahajanapadas are listed below:

• A major transition from a tribal quality-based community to a major territorial state was witnessed during the late Vedic period (900-600 BCE) in the Indian subcontinent
• The Janas/people (clan or tribal) who are settled and who used to migrate towards the east started to settle down in various regions
• The loyalty of these people got shifted from the tribe or clan towards a territory which is the Janapadas   
• The literal meaning of Janapadas is a place where the tribals settle their foot but they fought which each other for political dominance and major needful resources
• Some Janapadas started bringing others and extended their territory which later transformed into Mahajanapadas
• The most important elements of these Mahajanapada were their people, territory, governance/government, jurisdiction, and supremacy
• These elements were found in Mahajanapadas and they mainly represented the emergence of large territories that ruled over other Janas
• The king of Mahajanapadas ran centralized governance and was the supreme ruler
• He was responsible for the smooth functioning and maintenance of law and jurisdiction under his leadership in the Mahajanapadas

Political Structure Of Mahajanapadas

•       Most of the states in the Mahajanapadas functioned as a monarchy whereas others were known as Gana-Sanghas
•       There was a king who was elected to rule the states
•       Every Mahajanapada had one capital
•       Taxes were imposed on crops, craftsmen, traders, and hunters
•       The ruler or the raja maintained the armies of the state

Conclusion

The Indian Vedic period was one of the most prominent and important periods of all time. It marked the emergence of various reforms and developments in Indian history. It marked the onset of urbanization and various civilizations that helped India grow better. The journey of the emergence of Mahajanapadas from the Janapadas was prominent in Indian history. The Janapadas existed from 1500 BCE to 6th BCE whereas the Mahajanapadas existed during the 600 BC to 2300 BC period. The Janapada period saw the transition from the Indus valley civilization known as the bronze each to the famous Iron Age whereas the Mahajanapada period sorry transition from smaller settlements to one of India’s biggest urban area civilizations after the decline of the Indus valley civilization.