History Project
History Project
History Project
Topic for the Project: Detailed analysis of Janapadas and Mahajanpadas in the Mauryan
Empire with emphasis on its sociopolitical and legal structure
Objective of the project: The objective of this project is fairly simple, to articulate, analyse and
drill down an informed set of headings, sub-headings and content related to the formation of
Janapadas and Mahajanpadas in the realms of Mauryan Empire. These Janapadas and
Mahajanapadas were basis of an medivial civilization which provided a platform to form
legislative boundaries and create sociolegal norms for a booming civilization i.e Indian
Civilization under Mauryas and their descendents. This research paper/Journal entry would also
put emphasis on the Unit II (Administration and Governments of Earlier Territories) and
further explain certain conceptual bearings of the sub-unit- Mauryas Administrative System
with special emphasis on administrational justice. Adding to it, this project is an attempt to
revise, learn and research in depth for the given unit and sub-unit for academic purposes as well.
1
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DECLARATION
I humbly submit that all the references and links used to research for this topic has been duly
acknowledged and recognized under the column of ”Bibliography”. Furthermore, this project is
for no award or degree purpose in any other institution rather than Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya
National Law University, Lucknow and has been created for the sole purpose of academic check
in the session of 2020-21. I thank and acknowledge Prof. (Dr.) Vandana Singh (Professor,
History) for giving me a chance to research on this topic and to all the sources which turned out
to be helpful and informative in the course of project making. I would also like to extend my
gratitude towards the research websites and researchers, articulator and illustrators who helped
me in the formation of contention between the headings and content of this project.
2
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINEARY QUESTIONS
Before starting up with the project, there are certain questions which readers should be aware of
before going about in the same. These are some basic questions answering the terms that will be
reoccouring the due course of this research paper and could be vital for framing a bridge between
statements which will have a historical and particularly, Mauryan Historical background to it.
The questions are as follows:
3
Vedic Period. These factors gave rise to stronger ‘Janapadas’ and framed a concept of
administrative capitals in the earlier periods of Indian Civilization.
4
5. Janapadas that turned into Mahajanpadas?
There were 16 Mahajanpadas. These were strong administrative capitals of the Mauryan
empire which were earlier denoted as Janapadas but with due course emerged as
Mahajanapadas for their administrative and resourceful values that it rendered to the king
and his people. The list of these Mahajanapada, including their names, capitals and
geopolitical locations mapped on the earlier vedic map is given below:
5
NAME OF THE
CAPITAL LOCATION
MAHAJANAPADA
6
Bundelkhand region.
7
Godavari.
These were all the prelimineary questions that one should have dealt with before
proceeding further in the research methodology and content that will bridge the analysis of
these Janapadas and Mahajanpadas in the Mauryan Empire. In the next chapter, we wil
briefly discuss the Rise of the Mauryan Empire and how there was an urgent need of such
strategical distribution of republics among the Empire Boundaries. Furthermore, there will
be a scrutinized context of Kautilya (Chanakya), his role in the making of Janapadas and
Mahajanpadas and how ‘Arthshastra’, a book written by him, inculcates the basic
formation of them and how it has also given a base for future distribution of the
administrative and legislative bodies in Mauryan Empire and beyond.
8
CHAPTER II
1. Evolution of Janapadas
Literary evidence suggests that the janapadas flourished between 1500 BCE and 500
BCE. The earliest mention of the term "janapada" occurs in the Aitareya (8.14.4) and
Shatapatha (13.4.2.17) Brahmana texts. In the Vedic samhitas, the term jana denotes a
tribe, whose members believed in a shared ancestry. The janas were headed by a king.
The samiti was a common assembly of the jana members, and had the power to elect or
dethrone the king. The sabha was a smaller assembly of wise elders, who advised the
king. The janas were originally semi-nomadic pastoral communities, bu gradually came
to be associated with specific territories as they became less mobile. Various kulas (clans)
developed within the jana, each with its own chief. Gradually, the necessities of defence
and warfare prompted the janas to form military groupings headed by janapadins
(Kshatriya warriors). This model ultimately evolved into the establishment of political
units known as the janapadas.While some of the janas evolved into their own janapadas,
others appear to have mixed together to form a common Janapada. According to the
political scientist Sudama Misra, the name of the Panchala janapada suggests that it was a
fusion of five (pancha) janas.Some janas (such as Aja and Mutiba) mentioned in the
earliest texts do not find a mention in the later texts. Misra theorizes that these smaller
janas were conquered by and assimilated into the larger janas.
9
sovereignty are important elements of a state. All these elements were found in some of
the mahajanapadas. The mahajanapadas represented the emergence of territorial
kingdoms that ruled over people (jana). The king headed the government aided by a
centralised administration. The king was also the sovereign ruler. The king levied taxes
out of agricultural surplus and redistributed it and ensured maintenance of law and order
in a hierarchical society by force and coercion. These features marked the formation of
state in the Gangetic plains.
Firstly, Mauryan Empire before Ashoka was essentially a Hindu State. According to the
Hindu concept, the Supreme Sovereign of the State was Dharma or law and the king was
merely its guardian. King never dared to speak against the Dharma.
10
Secondly, the Mauryan king never dared to defy the ancient laws and usage.
Thirdly, the king was aided and advised by a Mantri Parishad. In ordinary times he could
ignore the advice of his ministers. But in times of emergency it was obligatory on him to
hear the individual and collective advice of his ministers.
Fourthly, the Brahmins had great influence over the king and even the later dared not to
disobey them. Instead he always had to look for their support.
Fifthly, as the powers of the Mauryan government was was decentralized in nature, the
provincial governor and provincial ministers had right to be consulted by the
king especially in all provincial matters.
These were some of the major limitations on the king of the Mauryan Empire. Most
of these Limitations were of Pre-Ashokan era (before 268 BCE). These limitations
and changes in and post Ashokan Era, would be densely discussed in the further
chapters.
The kingdom under the direct rule of the king and The vassal states.
The Mauryan territory that was directly ruled by the king was divided into a number of
provinces of Janapadas. Ashoka had at least five provinces whose capitals were Taxila,
Ujjain, Tosali, Suvarnagiri and Pataliputra. Each province was subdivided into number of
districts and each districts was again subdivided into number units. However, in addition
to these centrally ruled Mauryan territories, there were of vassal states. They enjoyed a
great deal of autonomy. The Mauryan provincial administration was similar to that of the
central administration. The Maurya emperor directly ruled the central and Eastern part of
the empire, whereas the other areas were ruled by the provincial Governors.The
provincial Governors(also called Rajans) were responsible for the day-to-day
administration of the provinces. They were expected to consult important matter with the
Central Administration. There were also the district officers, reporters, clerks, etc. who
11
helped the smooth running of the provincial administration. In the provincial
administration, the village was at the lowest unit. These smaller units later looted
resources of other such republics and turned themselves in Mahajanapadas from the
Janapadas.
12
CHAPTER III
13
ministers. This limitation though democratic in nature and strengthens the
viewpoint when we talk about the involvement of larger group of people
in decision making, but still was a limitation on the binding powers of the
king. Given its conclusive and egalitarian nature, this limitation can be
considered as a positive limitation.
‘Piyadasi’ or Ashoka was one of the famous rulers of the Mauryan dynasty,
under whom the dynasty expanded to its largest magnitude. The structure of
Government that was set up by Chandragupta Maurya in order to manage the
administration of such a vast Empire was maintained by His son, Bindusara.
During Ashoka, expanse of the Mauryan Territory was extended because of his
military expedition. To manage the administrative functions of a vast territory,
Ashoka introduced several administrative reforms. With the help of such reforms
he continued to maintain a centralised administration and at the same time
capably managed the provincial administration thereby ensuring social harmony.
2. In the sphere of justice and civic life, Ashoka introduced many reforms
because of his humanitarian and paternal sentiment. He introduced the
officials in order to execute justice properly and to preach the principles of
Dhamma. Moreover there were special groups of officials in order to
14
organise charities, promote toleration and reduce the burden of
punishment of the criminals.
15
most of the historians have unanimously opined that Ashoka upgraded the status
of the Rajukas.
(EDI
CTS OF GREAT EMPEROR ASHOKA)
16
Magadha, hence the region is believed to hold great significance to
Buddhists.
2. GANDHARA
According to Hecataeus of Miletus, Purushapura or present-day Peshawar
served as a grand Gandharic city. Other references pertaining to Gandhara
have been made in ancient texts like ‘Rigveda,’ ‘Ramayana,’ and
‘Mahabharata.’ This great kingdom was served graciously by river Indus
and its capital Taksashila (Taxila) housed the renowned center of learning,
the ‘Taksashila University.’ Scholars came to the university from all over
the world in order to seek greater knowledge and wisdom. Though
Gandhara was a huge kingdom on its own, it is often considered to be a
part of an empire by modern-day scholars. Dr. T. L. Shah even argued that
17
Gandhara and Kamboja, which was one of the 16 ‘mahajanapadas,’ were
two provinces of a single empire.
3. KURU
At the time of the Budhha, Kuru was ruled by Korayvya, a titular
chieftain. Its capital was Indraprastha (present-day Delhi), which was
known for people with sound health and deep wisdom. The Kurus were
related to people of other communities like the ‘Panchalas’ and the
‘Yadavas’ as they had matrimonial relations with them. Though Kuru
kingdom was a well-known monarchical state in the ancient world, the 6th
and 5th centuries BCE saw the formation of republican form of
government in the land of Kuru. Kautiliya’s ‘Arthashastra,’ which was
written in Sanskrit in the 4th century BCE, also states that the Kurus
followed the king consul constitution.
4. PANCHALA
The Panchala kingdom was located east of the Kuru kingdom, between
river Ganges and the mountain ranges of the Himalayas. Panchala was
divided into two parts, namely Dakshina-Panchala and Uttara-Panchala.
While Adhichhatra (present-day Bareilly) served as the capital city of
Uttara-Panchala, Kampilya (present-day Farrukhabad) was made the
18
capital of Dakshina-Panchala. Originally a monarchical kingdom,
Panchala is believed to have turned into a republican dominion during the
6th and 5th centuries BCE. Kautiliya’s ‘Arthashastra’ also states that
Panchala followed the king consul constitution. The kingdom was later
annexed by Mauryan Empire and then by the Gupta Empire.
These were certain limitations, reforms and importance of Kings, Kingdom and
Mahajanapadas. This chapter also materialized the importance of Various Mahajanapadas
in retrospect to the different timeline/lineage of Kings of Mauryan Empire. With this the
sociopolitical analysis of Mahajanpadas, Janapadas and social, legal and economical
system of Mauryan Empire completes. The next heading will deal with conclusive remarks
as to how sociopolitical administration of Mauryan Empire was majorly dependent on
these different republics for their upliftment, how this helped frame a stage for upcoming
dynasties and flourishment of their sociopolitical, legal and economical system. It will also
deal with some personal inputs on what have been gained by researching on such historical
topic and what one can infer after reading this project/research model thesis.
19
CONCLUSIVE POINTS
2. Setting up a Base
This kind of sociopolitical nature of Mauryan Empire made a foundation for the future
generation of not only the Mauryan Empire lineage but all the upcoming dynasties which
ruled over the territory of Bharata. There are evidences that the Gupta Empire,
charpeoned by many great rulers like Chandragupta I, Sanudragupta took inspiration
from the revenue system of the Mauryan Empire. It is also a well known fact that the
medivial empire of Vijayanagara, founded by Harihara and Buka gathered inspirations
from the sociopolitical administration of Mauryan Empire to set up their kingdom and to
ensure prosperity and brotherhood in the same.
20
BIBILOGRAPHY
WEBSITES
1. https://www.indianetzone.com/20/.htmadministrative_reforms_ashoka
2. https://learn.culturalindia.net/mahajanapadas.html#:~:text=Magadha%20was
%20one%20of%20the%20most%20prosperous%20kingdoms,the%20east,
%20and%20river%20Son%20in%20the%20west.
3. https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/janapadas-and-mahajanapadas-
1437458526-1
4. https://syskool.com/administration-of-mauryan-empire/#:~:text=Limitations
%20of%20Mauryan%20Empire%20were:%20Before%20Ashoka%20the,dared
%20to%20challenge%20the%20ancient%20laws%20and%20practices.
5. https://upscfever.com/upsc-fever/en/history/ancient/en-anc-chp6.html
6. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauryan-Empire
BOOKS
National Council of Education and Training (NCERT) “Themes in Indian History”
Class XII
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 7