Magadha Empire, Persian & Alexander’s Invasion

In the beginning of the 6th century BCE, northern India consisted of a large number of independent kingdoms.

Monarchies- on the Gangetic plain

The Republics- on the foothills of the Himalayas and in northwestern India

Some republics consisted of only one tribe like the Sakyas, Licchavis and Mallas.

The Buddhist literature Anguttara Nikaya gives a list of 16 great kingdoms called Sixteen Mahajanapadas.

Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Asmaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kambhoja
Finally in the mid 6th century BCE, only 4 kingdoms- Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha survived

Vatsa:

Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna
Capital was Kausambi, near modern Allahabad
Most popular ruler- Udayana
Strengthened his position by entering into matrimonial alliances with Avanti, Anga and Magadha
After his death, Vatsa was annexed to the Avanti kingdom

Avanti:

The capital was Ujjain
Most important ruler- Pradyota
He became powerful by marrying Vasavadatta, daughter of Udayana
He patronized Buddhism. The successors of Pradyota were weak and later this kingdom was taken over by the rulers of Magadha

Kosala:

Magadha:

Emerged as most powerful and prosperous
Capital- Rajgriha
It became the nerve centre of political activity in northern India
Geographical and strategic advantages which made her to rise in imperial greatness
Her strategic position is between the upper and lower part of the Gangetic valley. It had fertile soil
Natural assets- the iron ores in the hills near Rajgir and copper and iron deposits near Gaya
Wealth distribution- Her location at the centre of the highways of trade
During the reign of Bimbisara and Ajatasatru, the prosperity of Magadha reached its zenith