Chapter:2Kings, Farmers and towns Month: April

Class: XII

Subject: History

Module: 5 (module 1/4 of Lesson 2)

Topic-The Earliest state

Teacher: B R Meshram, AECS No. 3 RBT

Index

The earliest state-Magadha: first among Sixteen

An Early Empire -Mauyran Empire

Changing countryside

Town and trade

Revision of the first chapter:

Harappan civilization was earlier known as Indus valley civilization .

Harappa was the first site to be discovered 1921.

Now it is better known as Harappan civilization.

Mohenjodaro to be discovered by R D Banerjee in 1922

Mohenjodaro literal meaning is “The mound of Dead”.

Agricultural was main occupation of Harappan people.

Revision:

Exchange were regulated by precise system of weight, usually made of stone.

The script of Harappan culture was considered as mysterious.

No caste system in Harappan civilization.

The possible reasons for the decline of Harappan civilization like climatic changes, deforestation , excessive flood , change of course of river.

Introduction: There was several changes in economic and political

life between 600 BCE and 600 CE.

The most important was emergence of early state, empire and kingdom.

There were other changes as well like growth in agricultural production.

New town appeared almost throughout the subcontinent.

Historian tried to understand these changes by using variety of sources-inscriptions, text, coin etc.

This is complex process and sources do not tell the entire story.

After the end of Harappan civilization:

Rig-Veda was composed along the Indus and its

tributaries.

Agricultural settlement emerged in many part of subcontinent.

There is evidence of pastoral population in the Deccan and South.

Emergence of new mode of disposal of dead like megaliths in central and south India.

Emergence of new town and kingdom.

Princep and Priyadassi:

James Princep, an officer in the mint of East India company.

He deciphered Brahmi and Kharoshti scripts and helped us to know about his period in 1830.

In the scripts he found a mention of King ‘Priyadassi’

meaning pleasant to behold.

There is a perception that Priyadassi must have been used for the king Ashoka grandson of Chandragupta Mourya.

The Great Emperor Ashoka:

Brahmi scripts:

Sixth Century BCE-Major turning point

Increased of use of coin.

Development of coinage.

Emergence of early state.

Rise of new religion namely Jainism and Buddhism.

Buddhism and Jainism:

Buddhism and Jainism are two ancient religions that developed in Magadha and continue to be strive in modern age.

Mahavira and Gautama Buddha are generally accepted as contemporaries.

Jainism and Buddhism share many feature, terminology and ethical principle but emphasize them differently.

Gautama Buddha and Mahavira:

16 Mahajanpadas:

There were Sixteen Mahajanpadas.

Most important Mahajanpadas were Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhar and Avanti.

Features of Mahajanpadas:

Most Mahajanpadas were ruled by King, some known as ganas or sanghas.

Power was shared by number of men often collectively called Rajas.

Each had its own capital often fortified.

Some state maintained permanent standing armies.

From 6th century BCE onwards Brahamans began composing Sanskrit texts known as Dhammasutras.

Dhammasutras laid down norm for king and other people.

Rise of Magadha:

Fertile land provide agricultural production.

Availability of Iron mines enabled to Magadha to make tool and weapons.

Availability of elephant in forest constituted an important part of army.

Ganga and its tributaries provided means cheap and convenient communication.

Location of Patliputra facilitated route of communication.

Rajgriha, the old capital of Magadha was located among hills.

Powerful and ambitious ruler like Bimbisara,Ajatsatru and Mahapadama Nand.

Map of Magadha:

Home Assignment:

How many Mahajanpadas were there?

Why is 6th century BCE considered as major turning point in Indian History?

Who was James Princep? Which of two ancient scripts were deciphered by him?

What were Mahajanpadas ? Name a few important Mahajanpadas?

State any three features of Mahajanpadas?

Describe how Magadha became the most powerful Mahajanpadas?

Thank you