Introduction to Kingdoms Kings and an Early Republic
The people, or Janas, chose the kings, or Rajas, during the early stages of civilization. These kings were in charge of kingdoms or territories. However, some 3000 years ago, the process of selecting Rajas began to change. Men who aspired to be Rajas began to undertake different rituals and make large sacrifices.
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Let's take a look at Mahajanapadas, the horse sacrifice (Ashvamedha) for the kingdoms in detail from this article.
Ashvamedha or Horse Sacrifice for Kingdoms
A horse was let out to wander freely as part of this ritual. It was guarded by the Raja's men. They had to fight if the horse wandered into other kingdoms and the rajas of those kingdoms stopped it. They accepted that the raja performing the sacrifice was stronger than them if they allowed the horse to pass.
When the horse returned from the fights, if there were any, a sacrifice was held to honour and recognise the raja as the most powerful king. This sacrifice was carried out by specially trained priests with the involvement of all other rajas.
The revered raja was given a special seat, either a throne or a tiger's skin, in this ritual. His kids and wife were also required to execute certain minor rituals. Every raja had a charioteer who accompanied him into battle and regaled him with stories of his glories.
All of the other rajas who were invited were required to bring him gifts. Gifts were also brought by the common people, known as the vish and vaishya (with the exception of shudras). The rajas were turned from ‘Raja of Janas' to ‘Raja of Janapadas' as a result of this rite. Raja of Janas refers to "king of the people," while Raja of Janapadas refers to "king of the land where the Janas have settled" or "king of a kingdom."
Some Archaeological Findings
During their excavations in Janapadas, archaeologists discovered various settlements, including Purana Qila in Delhi, Hastinapur in Meerut, and Atranjikhera near Etah. People in these Janapadas lived in huts, raised cattle, produced a variety of crops, and created earthen pots, according to the findings.
Mahajanapadas
Some Janapadas have gained more importance and relevance throughout time than others. Mahajanapadas were the names given to these Janapadas. Here's an example of some of them:
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To protect themselves, most Mahajanapadas had a capital city and a fort. These massive stone and wood walls were likely built to protect the kingdoms against attacks by other kings. It's also likely that Rajas built these forts to show off their richness and power. Furthermore, when the Janas lived in a fortified region, it was easier to manage them.
It's vital to remember that such a fort takes a lot of materials and labour to create and maintain. Rajas began to appoint armies of young men and give them money as a result.
Taxation in Mahajanapadas
The Mahajanapadas Rajas required resources to construct forts and maintain armies of soldiers. They couldn't rely on people's gifts every now and then. As a result, they began collecting funds from Janas through ordinary taxes. Here's a basic overview of what they found:
Crops were the first things to be taxed because most people were farmers. The Raja usually took one-sixth (1/6th) of the produce as tax or Bhaga (share).
For skilled workers, there was a particular type of tax. They were required to work for the king for a day or two each month without being taxed.
Hunters, gatherers, herders, and trade transactions all had to pay a fee.
Agricultural Changes During this Period
Farmers had begun to use wooden ploughshares by this time. During this time, iron ploughshares took the place of wooden ploughshares. Farmers benefited because they were able to better turn over the heavy, clayey soil, resulting in increased grain production.
During this time, paddy transplanting also began. Plants would previously sprout from seeds scattered on the ground. People began replacing these seeds with pre-grown saplings, which resulted in enhanced output. Slaves (dasas and dasis) and landless agricultural labourers (kammakaras) performed this physically demanding work.
Magadhas
Magadha grew to become the most powerful Mahajanapada in around two hundred years. It was crossed by rivers such as the Ganga and the Son, which gave water, improved transportation, and helped to make the land fertile. In addition, Magadha's forested areas provided:
Some animals like elephants were captured and trained for the army,
Wood for building carts, chariots and houses,
There were also some iron ore mines in the area, which helped in the production of tools and weapons.
Bimbisara, Ajatasattu, Mahapadma Nanda, and others are among the great rulers of Magadha.
These kings made sure that they defeated the other janapadas and expanded their kingdoms. For many years, Rajagriha, or present-day Rajgir in Bihar, was the capital of Magadha. Pataliputra, or present-day Patna, eventually became the capital of Magadha.
There is a story about Alexander, a Macedonian warrior who desired to rule the entire world. He had reached the banks of the river Beas in the Indian subcontinent and intended to march eastwards. His men, on the other hand, refused since they'd heard of mighty Indian rulers with large armies of foot soldiers and elephants.
Vajji
Vajji was governed by a new sort of government at the time, known as the Gana or Sangha. Vaishali was the capital (Bihar). The way a Gana or Sangha functions is that the janapada has many rulers. Each ruler is referred to as a Raja. These rajas would perform rituals together and then meet to make decisions based on debate and discussion. Women, dasas, and kammakaras were not permitted to attend these assemblies.
Varnas
During this time, many books were created in north India, particularly in the areas drained by the Ganga and the Yamuna. Because they were composed after the Rigveda, which you learned about in Chapter 4, these writings are often referred to as later Vedic. The Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, as well as other books, are among them.
These were written by priests and described how rituals should be carried out. They also contained societal rules. Priests and warriors, farmers, herders, traders, craftsmen, labourers, fishers, and forest people were among the various groupings in society at the period. Some priests and warriors, as well as farmers and traders, were rich. Many herders, craftspeople, labourers, fishers, and hunters and gatherers were among the impoverished. People were split into four divisions by the priests, known as varnas. Each varna, they claimed, has its own set of functions.
Did you know?
Varnas are the important key players as rulers. There are more interesting facts about them. Let us know about their support and participation in battles here.
The Brahmin varna was the first varna. Brahmins were supposed to study (and teach) the Vedas, sacrifice animals, and receive gifts. The rulers, also known as kshatriyas, came in second. They were tasked with fighting battles and defending people. The vish or vaishyas came in third. Farmers, herders, and dealers were expected to be among them. Both kshatriyas and vaishyas were capable of performing sacrifices.
This is the detailed information on kingdoms kings and an early republic, where students can get kingdoms kings and an early republic pdf format from the official website of Vedantu. Let us discuss some kingdoms and early republic questions and answers in the coming section.
FAQs on Kings and Kingdoms of Early Times
1. What was the Ashvamedha yajna (horse sacrifice) and what was its purpose in early kingdoms?
The Ashvamedha yajna was a significant royal ritual where a raja would let a specially consecrated horse roam freely for a year, guarded by his soldiers. If another ruler stopped the horse, they had to fight. If the horse was allowed to pass, it signified that the other rulers accepted the supremacy of the raja performing the sacrifice. The ritual concluded with the sacrifice of the horse, establishing the raja as a powerful sovereign or chakravartin (universal ruler).
2. Why did the rajas of mahajanapadas build large forts around their capital cities?
Rajas of the mahajanapadas built massive forts for several strategic reasons:
- Defence: The primary purpose was to protect the capital city from attacks by rival kingdoms.
- Administration: A fortified city was easier to govern and control.
- Status Symbol: Constructing huge, elaborate walls demonstrated the raja's immense wealth, power, and authority to both subjects and other rulers.
3. What is the main difference between a 'janapada' and a 'mahajanapada'?
A janapada literally means 'the land where the jana (people) set its foot'. These were the early, smaller territorial states. A mahajanapada, or 'great janapada', was a much larger, more powerful, and more complex kingdom that emerged around 2500 years ago. Mahajanapadas typically had a fortified capital city, a standing army, and a system of regular taxation, which most janapadas lacked.
4. How did the rulers of mahajanapadas collect taxes to maintain their kingdoms?
Unlike earlier rajas who relied on occasional gifts, the rulers of mahajanapadas needed a regular income to maintain large armies and build forts. They established a formal system of taxation, which included:
- Tax on crops: Farmers paid one-sixth (1/6th) of their produce, known as bhaga (share).
- Tax on craftspersons: Paid in the form of labour, such as working for the king for a day every month.
- Tax on herders: Paid in the form of animals or animal products.
- Taxes on trade: Levied on goods that were bought and sold.
- Tax from forest dwellers: Hunters and gatherers provided forest produce like timber, honey, or elephants.
5. How did the use of iron tools fundamentally change agriculture and society during this period?
The widespread adoption of iron technology was revolutionary. The use of the iron ploughshare allowed farmers to till heavy, clayey soil more effectively than with wooden ploughs. This led to a significant increase in agricultural production. This surplus of food could support a larger population, including non-agricultural specialists like soldiers, priests, and artisans. This agricultural wealth formed the economic base for the powerful mahajanapadas and their large cities.
6. What specific factors made Magadha the most powerful mahajanapada?
Magadha's rise to prominence was due to a combination of geographical and political factors. Its lands were extremely fertile, watered by rivers like the Ganga and Son, ensuring agricultural prosperity. The region was rich in iron ore, essential for making superior weapons and tools. Its forests provided timber for construction and elephants for the army. Furthermore, Magadha was led by a series of ambitious and ruthless rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatashatru who expanded the kingdom through conquest and clever policies.
7. What made the governance of a 'gana' or 'sangha' like Vajji different from a monarchy like Magadha?
The core difference lay in the structure of rule. In a monarchy like Magadha, a single hereditary king held all the power. In contrast, a gana or sangha, such as the Vajjian confederacy, was an oligarchy or an early republic. It was not ruled by one person but by a group of rulers, often called 'rajas'. These rajas met in an assembly to debate and make decisions collectively. This system valued discussion and consensus over the absolute decree of a single monarch.
8. Why was the 'varna' system, as described in texts of this period, a source of social conflict?
The varna system, which divided society into four groups—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—was rigid and based on birth, not occupation or ability. This created social tension because it was hierarchical, placing Brahmins at the top and Shudras at the bottom with the fewest rights. Other rulers (Kshatriyas) often vied with Brahmins for the highest status, and many people rejected the system entirely, leading to the rise of new religions like Buddhism and Jainism which did not recognise these birth-based distinctions.
