Janapadas
c. 1000–600 BCE
Overview
Early territorial polities emerging from Vedic tribes
Janapadas & Mahajanapadas
Early territorial polities (janapadas) and the 16 great kingdoms/republics (mahajanapadas) of the Gangetic plain and northwest India (c. 1000-300 BCE). Transition from Vedic tribal organization to urbanized states with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements.
Territory Phases
Kuru1000 BCE – 600 BCE
Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kuru. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.
Panchala1000 BCE – 600 BCE
Janapada (early territorial polity) of Panchala. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.
Kosala1000 BCE – 600 BCE
Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kosala. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.
Kashi1000 BCE – 600 BCE
Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kashi. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.
Videha1000 BCE – 600 BCE
Janapada (early territorial polity) of Videha. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.
Gandhara1000 BCE – 600 BCE
Janapada (early territorial polity) of Gandhara. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.
Kamboja1000 BCE – 600 BCE
Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kamboja. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.
Magadha600 BCE – 300 BCE
Dominant Mahajanapada of Magadha. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Kosala600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Kosala. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Vatsa600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Vatsa. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Avanti600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Avanti. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Panchala600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Panchala. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Kuru600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Kuru. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Kashi600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Kashi. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Chedi600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Chedi. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Matsya600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Matsya. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Gandhara600 BCE – 300 BCE
Mahajanapada of Gandhara. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).
Related Civilisations
Sources
- Hand-drawn polygon
- Thapar, R. (2002) Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300
- Allchin, F.R. (1995) The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia
- Buddhist Anguttara Nikaya(Canonical list of 16 Mahajanapadas)
- Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1923/1996) Political History of Ancient India