Ancient (MAGADHA EMPIRE)

MAGADHA EMPIRE

Magadha embraced the former districts of Patna, Gaya & parts of Shahabad, & grew to be the leading state of the time.

Originally founded in 566 BC by the grand father of Bimbisara, but actual foundation by Bimbisara.

Contemporary of Buddha.
He conquered Anga (E. Bihar) to gain control over trade route with the southern states.
His capital was Rajgir (Girivraja). He strengthened his position by matrimonial alliance with the ruling families of Kosala, Vaishali, and Madra (3 wives).
His capital was surrounded by 5 hills, the openings in which were closed by stone walls on all sides. This made Rajgir impregnable.

Son of Bimbisara, killed his father & seized the throne.
Annexed Vaishali and Kosala (annexed Vaishali with the help of a war engine, which was used to throw stones like catapults. Also possessed a chariot to which a mace was attached, thus facilitating mass killings), Kosala was ruled by Prasenajit at that time.
Buddha died during his reign; arranged the first Buddhist Council.

He founded the new capital at Pataliputra, situated at the confluence of the Ganga & Son.

Founded by a minister Shishunaga. He was succeeded by Kalasoka (II Buddhist council). Dynasty lasted for two generations only.
Greatest achievement was the destruction of power of Avanti.

It is considered first of the non-Kshatriya dynasties.
Founder was Mahapadma Nanda. He added Kalinga to his empire. He claimed to be the ekarat, the sole sovereign who destroyed all the other ruling princes.
Alexander attracted India in their reign. DhanaNanda was there at that time.
Nandas were fabulously rich & enormously powerful. Maintained 200,000 infantry, 60,000 cavalry & 6,000 war elephants. This is supposed to have checked Alexander’s army from advancing towards Magadha.

Enjoyed advantageous geographical position i.e., near richest iron deposits (thus effective weapons).
The 2 capitals of Magadha, Rajgir and Patliputra, were situated at very strategic points.
Fertile soil of the lower Ganga regions.
First used elephants in wars.
Note: Archaeologically, 6^th century BC marks the beginning of NBPW phase (Northern Black Polished Ware) which was very glossy, shinning type of pottery. This marked the beginning of Second Urbanization in India.

Alexander (356 BC – 326 BC) was the son of Philip of Macedonia (Greece) who invaded India in 326 BC. At that time NW India was split up into a number of small independent states like Taxila, Punjab (kingdom of Porus), Gandhara etc. Except Porus who fought the famous battle of Hydaspas (on banks of Jhelum) with Alexander, all other kings submitted meekly.
When Alexander reached Beas, his soldiers refused to go further, so he was forced to retreat. To mark the farthest point of his advance, he erected 12 huge stones altars on the northern bank of Beas. Remained in India for 19 months. Died in 323 BC at Babylon.
The effects of Alexander’s invasion were indirect:
It exposed India to Europe, by opening up four distinct lines of communication, three by land and one by sea.
Due to cultural contact, a cosmopolitan school of art came up in Gandhara.
Paved the way fro the unification of north India under Chandragupta Maurya by weakening small States.

With the help of Chanakya, known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, the overthrew the Nandas & established the rule of the Maurya dynasty.
Chandragupta is called Sandrocottus by the Greek scholars.
Selecus Necater was one of the generals of Alexander and after his death, had succeeded in gaining control of most the Asiatic provinces. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 BC and was compelled to yield parts of Afghanistan to Chandragupta. There was also a marriage alliance between the two families.
Built a vast empire, which included not only good portions of Bihar and Bengal, but also western and north western India and the Deccan.
This account is given by Megasthenes (A Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus to the court of Chandragupta Maurya) in his book Indica. We also get the details from the Arthashastra of Kautilya.
Chandragupta adopted Jainism and went to Sravanabelagola (near Mysore) with Bhadrabahu, where he died by slow starvation.
Vishakhadatta wrote a drama Mudrarakshasa (describing Chandragupts’s enemy) & Debi Chandraguptam in sixth century AD.

Called Amitraghat by Greek writers.
Chandragupta was succeeded by his son Bindusara in 297 BC. He is said to have conquered `the land between the 2 seas’, i.e., the Arabian Sea & bay of Bengal. At the time of his death, almost the entire subcontinent came under the Mauryan rule. Greek Ambassador, Deimachos visited his court.

Ashoka was appointed the Viceroy of Taxila and Ujjain by hi father, Bindusara. He was at Ujjain by his father, Bindusara. He was at Ujjain when Bindusara, died. His formal coronation was delayed for four years, suggesting a disputed succession. A Buddhist literature says that he came to throne after killing his 99 brothers.
Regarded as one of the greatest kings of all times. He as the first ruler to maintain direct contact with people through his inscription.
In his inscriptions following languages have been used:
Brahmi, Kharoshthi, Armaic and Greek. (James Princep first deciphered the inscriptions).
Ashoka became the Buddhist under Upagupta.

His empire covered the whole territory from Hindukush to Bengal & extended over Afghanistan, Baluchistan & whole of India with the exception of a small area in the farthest south. Kashmir and Valleys of Nepal were also included, first empire to do so.

Ashoka’s empire was divided into provinces with a viceroy in each province. He established Dharmshalas, hospitals and Sarais throughout his kingdom.
He appointed Dharma Mahapatras to propagate dharma among various social groups including women.
He organized a network of missionaries to preach the doctrine both in his kingdom and beyond. He sent them to Ceylon, Burma (sent his son Mahindra & daughter Sanghamitra to Ceylon) and other south-east Asian regions, notably Thailand.
Ashoka is called `Buddhashakya & Ashok’ in Maski edict and `Dharmasoka’ in Sarnath inscription. He was also known as `Devanampiya’, beloved of the gods, and `Piyadassi’ – of pleasing appearance.

The emblem of the Indian Republic has been adopted form the 4 – lion capital of the Ashokan pillar at Sarnath.
Gurukuls & Buddhist monasteries developed with royal patronage. Universities of Taxila & Banaras are the gifts of this era.
Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Bhadrabahu’s Kalpa Sutra, Buddhist texts like the Katha Vaitha & Jain texts such as Bhagwati Sutra, Acharanga Sutra and Dasavakalik comprise some of the important literature of this era.

Ashoka’s patronage of Buddhism and his anti-sacrificial attitude is said to have affected the income of the Brahmins. So they developed antipathy against Ashoka.
Revenue from agrarian areas was into sufficient to maintain such a vast empire as booty from war was negligible.
Successors of Ashoka were too weak to keep together such a large centralized empire.