📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. 16 Mahajanapadas & Rise of Magadha
The list of 16 Mahajanapadas appears in the Buddhist Anguttara Nikaya and the Jain Bhagavati Sutra.
| Mahajanapada | Capital |
|---|---|
| Magadha | Rajagriha / Pataliputra |
| Kosala | Shravasti |
| Vatsa | Kaushambi |
| Avanti | Ujjayini / Mahishmati |
| Vajji | Vaishali |
| Anga | Champa |
| Kashi | Varanasi |
| Gandhara | Taxila |
| Kuru | Indraprastha |
| Panchala | Ahichchhatra / Kampilya |
| Ashmaka | Potana (only one south of the Vindhyas) |
- Vajji and Malla were republics (ganas); Vaishali is counted among the earliest republics.
- Magadha dynasties: Haryanka (Bimbisara, Ajatashatru; Udayin founded Pataliputra) → Shishunaga (Kalashoka) → Nanda (Mahapadma Nanda, Dhana Nanda).
- Alexander invaded in 326 BCE; Battle of the Hydaspes (Jhelum) against Porus; his army refused to cross the Beas.
📌 2. Mauryan Rulers
| Ruler | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya (c.321–297 BCE) | Defeated Dhana Nanda with Chanakya (Kautilya); defeated Seleucus (305 BCE); Greek envoy Megasthenes (Indica); became a Jain, died at Shravanabelagola. |
| Bindusara | Greeks called him "Amitrochates"; patron of the Ajivikas. |
| Ashoka (c.268–232 BCE) | Turned Buddhist after the Kalinga War (261 BCE) (Upagupta); policy of Dhamma; edicts in Brahmi (Kharosthi, Greek, Aramaic in the NW); called "Devanampiya Piyadasi"; sent son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka. |
| Brihadratha | Last Maurya; killed by general Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE. |
- Ashoka's inscriptions were deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837. The Maski and Gujarra edicts mention the name Ashoka.
- The Sarnath Lion Capital is India's national emblem.
📌 3. Mauryan Administration & Economy
- Arthashastra (Kautilya) — treatise on statecraft; Saptanga theory (seven limbs of the state).
- Centralised administration; council of ministers; officers — Samaharta (revenue collector), Sannidhata (treasurer).
- According to Megasthenes, Pataliputra was run by 6 committees of 5 members each.
- Coins: punch-marked silver coins; NBPW pottery.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Indica is by Megasthenes, Arthashastra by Kautilya — don't swap them.
- Pataliputra was founded by Udayin, not Ajatashatru (who fortified Pataligrama).
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. The list of 16 Mahajanapadas is found in which Buddhist text? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Anguttara Nikaya lists the 16 Mahajanapadas.
The Anguttara Nikaya lists the 16 Mahajanapadas.
Q2. Which was the only Mahajanapada south of the Vindhyas? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Ashmaka (capital Potana) lay in the Godavari region.
Ashmaka (capital Potana) lay in the Godavari region.
Q3. Who founded the city of Pataliputra? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Haryanka ruler Udayin founded Pataliputra.
The Haryanka ruler Udayin founded Pataliputra.
Q4. Who founded the Mauryan dynasty? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Chandragupta, helped by Chanakya, overthrew Dhana Nanda.
Chandragupta, helped by Chanakya, overthrew Dhana Nanda.
Q5. Who wrote 'Indica'? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Greek envoy Megasthenes described Chandragupta's court in Indica.
Greek envoy Megasthenes described Chandragupta's court in Indica.
Q6. Ashoka embraced Buddhism after which war? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The bloodshed of the Kalinga War (261 BCE) changed Ashoka.
The bloodshed of the Kalinga War (261 BCE) changed Ashoka.
Q7. Who first deciphered Ashoka's inscriptions? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi and read the edicts in 1837.
James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi and read the edicts in 1837.
Q8. India's national emblem is taken from: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Ashoka's Sarnath Lion Capital is the national emblem.
Ashoka's Sarnath Lion Capital is the national emblem.
Q9. Which edicts mention the name 'Ashoka' explicitly? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Most edicts say 'Devanampiya Piyadasi'; Maski and Gujarra name Ashoka.
Most edicts say 'Devanampiya Piyadasi'; Maski and Gujarra name Ashoka.
Q10. Who wrote the 'Arthashastra'? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Kautilya (Chanakya) wrote the Arthashastra on statecraft.
Kautilya (Chanakya) wrote the Arthashastra on statecraft.
Q11. The Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BCE) was fought between: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Alexander fought Porus on the Jhelum (Hydaspes).
Alexander fought Porus on the Jhelum (Hydaspes).
Q12. Alexander's army refused to advance beyond which river? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
At the Beas (Hyphasis) the soldiers refused to go on.
At the Beas (Hyphasis) the soldiers refused to go on.
Q13. Who killed the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
General Pushyamitra Shunga killed him in 185 BCE.
General Pushyamitra Shunga killed him in 185 BCE.
Q14. Which religion did Chandragupta Maurya adopt in his last days? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
He became a Jain and died by sallekhana at Shravanabelagola.
He became a Jain and died by sallekhana at Shravanabelagola.
Q15. In Mauryan administration, who was the 'Samaharta'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Samaharta collected revenue; the Sannidhata was treasurer.
The Samaharta collected revenue; the Sannidhata was treasurer.
Q16. Bindusara was a patron of which sect? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Bindusara is said to have favoured the Ajivikas.
Bindusara is said to have favoured the Ajivikas.
Q17. Whom did Ashoka send to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra.
Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra.
Q18. Mauryan coins were mainly: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Silver punch-marked coins circulated in Mauryan times.
Silver punch-marked coins circulated in Mauryan times.
Q19. Vaishali was the capital of which Mahajanapada? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Vaishali was the capital of the Vajji confederacy.
Vaishali was the capital of the Vajji confederacy.
Q20. Kautilya's 'Saptanga theory' relates to: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Saptanga = king, minister, territory, fort, treasury, army, ally.
Saptanga = king, minister, territory, fort, treasury, army, ally.