Describe the salient features of mahajanapadas.
The sixth century BCE marked a major turning point in early Indian history, witnessing the emergence of mahajanapadas or "great states." Early Buddhist and Jaina texts mention sixteen such states. Important names include Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara and Avanti.
Politically, most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings. However, some known as ganas or sanghas were oligarchies where power was shared by men collectively called rajas. Both Mahavira and the Buddha belonged to such ganas. In the Vajji sangha, rajas probably controlled resources like land collectively.
Each mahajanapada had a capital city, often fortified. Maintaining these fortified cities, along with armies and bureaucracies, required substantial resources. Major towns were located along routes of communication—Pataliputra on riverine routes, Ujjayini along land routes.
This period saw growing use of iron, development of coinage (punch-marked coins), and urbanisation in the Ganga valley. It also witnessed the growth of diverse systems of thought, including Buddhism and Jainism.
Among the sixteen, Magadha became the most powerful mahajanapada between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Its power was attributed to productive agriculture, accessible iron mines, elephants from forests, and the Ganga providing cheap communication. Ambitious kings like Bimbisara, Ajatasattu and Mahapadma Nanda contributed to its rise.
Explanation
This answer covers all major features of mahajanapadas from the textbook: their emergence in sixth century BCE, the sixteen states mentioned in Buddhist and Jaina texts, two types of political organization (monarchies and ganas/sanghas), fortified capital cities, economic developments like iron use and coinage, urbanisation, and the prominence of Magadha with reasons for its power. The answer uses bold for key terms as required for a 5-mark long answer.