Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Chapter 6 Second Urbanisation in India PDF Download

6. Second Urbanisation in India

6.1 Rise of Mahajanapadas

The ambition of territorial expansion led to a conflict among the janapadas. Some janapadas proved more powerful than the others in this conflict. The stronger janapadas began to annex the conquered territories to their own and thus, they successfully expanded their boundaries. By 600 B.C.E. sixteen mahajanapadas were established in India, from the northwest region to Magadha. Conquering other janapadas and annexing their territory permanently to one's own, became a regular practice in the times of mahajanapadas. Ultimately, this conflict resulted into the creation of the large empire like Magadha. Ancient India once again witnessed the rise of cities. This process is known as the 'Second Urbanisation'.

The names of sixteen mahajanapadas are found in the Jaina and Buddhist literature and also in the Purana texts. Buddhist texts were written in a period, which was closer to the period of the mahajanapadas. Hence the names occurring in the Buddhist texts are accepted as more reliable.

Teacher's Note

Just like how villages in India grew into big cities like Mumbai and Delhi, ancient janapadas also became big kingdoms called mahajanapadas. This happened because strong kingdoms took over weaker ones.

Exam Trick

Remember: 16 mahajanapadas = 16 big kingdoms. By 600 B.C.E. means before the birth of Jesus, so it is very old. Second Urbanisation means cities grew for the second time in history.

Points to Remember

Janapadas fought with each other to expand their land.
Stronger janapadas conquered weaker ones and took their territory.
By 600 B.C.E., there were 16 big kingdoms called mahajanapadas.
Cities grew again during this time, called Second Urbanisation.
We know about mahajanapadas from Buddhist and Jaina writings.

6.2 Ashmak/Assak Mahajanapada

Among the sixteen mahajanapadas the one known as Ashmak or Assak is identified with the region of present day Maharashtra.

Ashmaka/Assaka was the only mahajanapada that was situated in the region known as 'Dakshinapatha'. Remaining fifteen mahajanapadas were in north India. Suttanipata describes the region of Dakshinapatha in great details. It was the region of an important trading route. It started at Shravasti and proceeded through Ujjayini and Mahishmati. From there one would reach Pratishthan after crossing the Vindhyas.

According to 'Mahagovinda Suttanta', a Buddhist text, Brahmadatta was the king of Assaka and the name of his capital was 'Potana/Podana'. Potana is identified with Nandura in Buldhana district. Potana was also known by the names, 'Potali' and 'Paudanya'. Other janapadas situated in the region of Dakshinapatha were 'Vidarbha', 'Bhoja', 'Dandaka' and 'Kalinga'. The first three were part of present day Maharashtra. Also the tribal states of the Andhas, Shabaras, Pulindas and the Mutibas were also located in the Godavari and Krishna basins.

According to Jaina texts, Bahubali, the son of Rishabhanath the first Jaina Tirthankara was given the kingdom of Ashmaka and Podanpur was its capital. The magnificent statue of Bahubali stands at Shrvanbelgola, in the Hassan district of Karnataka. Bahubali had attained Keval Gyan (Omniscience).

Teacher's Note

Ashmak was the only big kingdom in South India during those times. All other 15 kingdoms were in North India. It was located in present-day Maharashtra.

Exam Trick

Remember: Ashmak = South India (Maharashtra). Dakshinapatha = South path or South region. This word itself tells you it is in the south.

Points to Remember

Ashmak was in the south, near present-day Maharashtra.
Its capital city was Potana or Potali.
It was the only southern mahajanapada among all 16.
Dakshinapatha was an important trading route.
The Godavari river flowed through this region.

6.3 Second Urbanisation in India

The janapadas with definite geographic borders and administrative system were established roughly around 1000 B.C.E. The ambition to expand geographic boundaries and the political conflict caused by it left some janapadas more powerful than others. It resulted into the creation of sixteen mahajanapadas from Afghanistan in the northeast to Bengal in the east, stretching to the banks of the Godavari in the south.

The capital cities of the mahajanapadas and some other cities, which flourished because of prospering trade once again brought the age of urbanisation in India. It is known as the 'Second Urbanisation'.

The 'Mahaparinibbansutta' mentions names of six cities, which were of great importance. They are, Champa, Rajagriha, Shravasti, Saketa, Kushambi and Varanasi. By the 6th century B.C.E. these and a few other cities had become very prosperous.

Characteristic pottery of janapadas and mahajanapadas has been recovered from various archaeological sites. Also, many sites have yielded iron implements and punch marked coins of silver and copper. The punch marked coins have been mentioned in the ancient Indian literature as 'Karshapana' or 'Pana'.

The following things are perceived as markers of urbanisation: Development of the cities as administrative centres, network of surrounding villages to cater to the needs of urban centres (hinterland), interlinking of the village administration with the central administration, well defined rules of taxation, internal and distant trade, well-established network of land routes and waterways (both rivers and oceans), purchase and sales of goods by increasingly using monetary exchange along with the barter system, a stable legal system and judiciary. All these characteristics of urbanisation were present in the times of mahajanapadas.

Teacher's Note

Second Urbanisation means cities grew again for the second time in Indian history. Just like today when a city has shops, markets, and roads connecting different places, ancient cities also had these things.

Exam Trick

Remember: First Urbanisation = Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. Second Urbanisation = Mahajanapada period. Punch marked coins = old money used in those times, like our coins today.

Points to Remember

Second Urbanisation happened during the mahajanapada period.
Six important cities were Champa, Rajagriha, Shravasti, Saketa, Kushambi and Varanasi.
Cities grew because of trade and as capital cities of kingdoms.
Punch marked coins were used as money in those times.
Cities had markets, roads, and trade routes connecting them.

6.4 Mahajanapadas and The Contemporary Cities

1. Kasi: This mahajanapada was a powerful one in the beginning of the mahajanapada period. Varanasi was its capital. The kings of Kasi were ambitious. According to the jataka stories they aspired for the highest position among all contemporary kings (Sabbarajunam aggaraja). The Buddhist text, 'Mahavagga' mentions that the king of Kasi had defeated Kosala and annexed it to his own kingdom. Later, Ajatashatru, the king of Magadha conquered and annexed Kasi mahajanapada to Magadha.

2. Kosala: Ancient Kosala encompassed the regions of Uttar Pradesh in India and Lumbini in Nepal. Sharavasti was its capital city. King Prasenjit (Pasenadi) was a disciple of Gautama Buddha. Kosala was destroyed and annexed permanently to Magadha by King Ajatashatru.

3. Anga: The city of Champa was the capital of Anga. It was a centre of the marine trade. It was permanently annexed to Magadha by King Bimbisara.

4. Magadha: Magadha had its first capital at the city of Girivraja, also known as Rajagriha. Girivraja was surrounded by five hills making it formidable for the enemies. King Bimbisara was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. The policy of territorial annexation of other kingdoms was started during the reign of Kind Bimbisara. Later Pataliputra became the capital of Magadha empire.

5. Vrujji / Vajji: This was a confederation of eight clans, known as 'Maha Aththkula'. It included clans like Videha, Lichchhavi, Vajji, Shakya, Dnyatruk, etc. The 'Ekapanna Jataka' mentions that Vaishali, the capital of this mahajanapada was fortified with three surrounding walls. It had three entrance gates and bastions. King Ajatashatru was the one who annexed the territory of the Vrujji/Vajji's land to Magadha.

Teacher's Note

Each mahajanapada had its own capital city. For example, Varanasi was the capital of Kasi kingdom, just like Delhi is the capital of India today. These capital cities were powerful and rich.

Exam Trick

Remember: Magadha became the biggest and most powerful kingdom. It took over all other kingdoms one by one. By the end, only Magadha remained independent.

Points to Remember

Kasi's capital was Varanasi and it was powerful at first.
Kosala had Shravasti as its capital city.
Anga was a trading kingdom with Champa as capital.
Magadha became the strongest and took over other kingdoms.
Vrujji was a group of 8 clans, not ruled by a single king.

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