Skip to main content

Chapter 4 Magadh Empire Its Dynasties & Alexander Invasion

In the beginning of 6th century BC there was the struggle among the Janpads on the gangentic plane to persuade the wealth of the north i.e. IRON & COPPER that resulted into formation of MAHAJANPAD.
Shodasha Mahajanpad-  16 Mahajanpads (mentioned in Buddhist Literature “Anguttara Nikaya”).

4 most powerful were:-

1. Vatsa -  Capital:- Kaushambi, Ruler:- Udayan
2. Avanti- Capital:- Ujjain, Ruler:- Pradyot
3. Kosala- Capital:- Ayodhya, Ruler:- Prasanjit
4. Magadh- 1st Capital- Siravasti
                    2nd Capital- Rajgir
                    3rd Capital- Patliputra
   

Rise Of Magadha Empire

  • The political history of India from 6th century BC onwards is the history of struggle between four states - Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avantis - for supremacy.
  • Ultimatley the kingdom of Magadha emerged to be the most powerful one and succeeded in founding an empire.
Dynasties of Magadha Empire:

Haryanka Dynasty

Founder- Bimbisar
Last- Udayin



i. Bimbisar
  • Originally founded in 566 BC by the grand father of Bimbisar named Brihdratha but actually founded by Bimbisara (544-492BC).
  • Capital- Rajgir.
ii. Ajatshatru (son)
  • Ajatsatru (492-460 BC): son of Bimbisara, killed his father & seized the throne.
  • Fuoght 16 year battele with lichhavis and Kosal.
  • Constructed "Dhatu Chaityas" around capital Patligram. Also constructed Chaityas & Viharas.
  • Organised 1st Buddhist Council at Rajgir.
iii. Udayin (last)
  • Udayin (460-444 BC): He founded the new capital at Pataliputra, situated at the confluence of  the Ganag & Son.

Shishunag Dynasty

Founder- Shishunag

  • Capital- Vaishali
  • Founded by a minister shishunaga.
  • Shishunaga was succeeded by Kalashok, in his reign 2nd Buddhism council held at Vaishali.

Nanda Dynasty

Founder- Mahapadmnanda
Last- Dhananda


i. Mahapadmnanda ("Ekarat")
  • Uprooted 'Khatriya' from north india, therefore tiltled "Ekarat" and Considered by many as the first non-Kshatriya dynasty.
  • 'Hathigumpa Inscription'- By Kharvel of Kalinga described mahapadm & his conquest over Kalinga.
  • He was the first to cross Vindhya to capture Deccan.
ii. Dhanananda
  • Alexander (from Greece) attacked India in their reign in 326 BC. Dhana Nanda was there at that time.
  • Later defeated by Mauryas.
Persian Invasion

First- Cyrus
Last- Darius-III

Alexander Invasion (327-25 BC)

  • Was from Macedonia (Greece), Father- Philip.
  • Reached India through "Khyber Pass" (hindukush mountain) & made bridge on Indus.
  • First met Taxila king Ambhi.
Battle Of "Hydaspes"(Jhelum) (326 BC)
(won) Alexander Vs Porus (ruled b/w area of Jhelum & Chenab)
  • Impressed by the courage & heroism of Porus, Alexander reinstated him.
  • Came upto river 'Beas' & returned back as his army revolted.
  • Died in 'Babylon' (323 BC).
This Invasion resulted into Unification Of North under Mauryas  

Catch Maurya Empire in the next article...............

Popular posts from this blog

Easy way to understand Direct and Indirect speech rules

Introduction. There two ways to convey a message of a person, or the words spoken by a person to other person. 1.       Direct speech 2.       Indirect speech Suppose your friend whose name is Vipul tells you in College , “I will give you a pen”. You come to home and you want to tell your brother what your friend told you. There are two ways to tell him. Direct speech:   Vipul said, “I will give you a pen”. Indirect Speech:  Vipul said that he would give me a pen. In direct speech   the original words of person are narrated (no change is made) and are enclosed in quotation mark. While in indirect speech some changes are made in original words of the person because these words have been spoken in past so the tense will change accordingly and pronoun may also be changed accordingly. In indirect speech  the statement of the person is not enclosed in quotation marks, the word “ that ” may be used before the statement to show that it is indirect sp

English Error Spotting - Previous Year Questions of SSC CGL

Competition Zenith brings you a post on Error Spotting to boost your English for competitive exams. We are providing you the specifically chosen questions from previous year papers of SSC CGL with the best possible explanation in simplest of the language. Below are some questions with explanation: Questions 1. Have trust on(a)/God and everything(b) /will be right.(c) /(d) No error 2. The cattles (a) /are grazing (b) /in the fields.(c) /(d) No error 3. He is one of (a)/ the best novelists (b) /that has ever lived. Do you agree? (c)/no error (d) 4. On a rainy day (a) /I enjoy to watch TV (b) / with a hot cup of tea.(c ) /no error(d) 5. No sooner did (a)/I reach (b)/ Patna railway station than the train departed(c)/no error (d) 6. There is no agreement (a) / between you and I (b) /so we are free to go our way(c) /no error (d) 7. A variety of books (a) / is available in the market (b) / to help the students qualify the competitive examinations.(c) /no error 8.

Spotting Error Quiz IV - With Explanation For SSC Exam 2015

  Hello Readers, As you know that Spotting Error types question is an important part of competitive examinations and seldom any book provide you the detailed solution. So we have decided to provide you the previous year questions of  spotting error along with the Explanation . If you like it let us know, you can also ask for detailed solutions of questions that are bothering you. 1.     I found (a)/ the two first chapters of the book (b)/ particularly interesting. (c)/ No error (d) Answer    (b) Explanation : It should be   ‘the first two chapters’ . 2.     Bacon, the father of the English easy (a) / had a thirst (b) / of knowledge (c) / No error (d) Answer    (a) Explanation : The English means the citizen of England.   Article is not used before language