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    Rise of Magadh Empire N It's Causes

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    Rise of Magadh Empire N It's Causes

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    tamang89623
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    Rise of Magadh empire n it's causes

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    20 views3 pages

    Rise of Magadh Empire N It's Causes

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    tamang89623

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    ^^agadha: First amongst the Sixteen

    rfof all the states of the 6th century B.C., Magadha,

    Koshala, Vats and Avanti were the four prominent

    ^ ones. The political history of India from 6th century

    B.C. onwards, is in fact, the history of struggle for

    supremacy among these states. Ultimately, Magadha

    9 emerged victorious in the struggle and by the 5th

    century B.C. it became the most powerful and the

    \ largest state of India. The Magadha empire played a.

    vital role in the politics of India till 4th century B.C. J

    Factors leading to the prominence of

    ) Magadha

    Following were the main factors contributing to the

    J prominence of Magadha;

    1. Magadh's advantageous geographical position

    contributed greatly in its expansion. The

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    Magadha empire was bounded on the north by

    the Ganges, on the west by the river Sone and

    on the east by the river Champa. The spurs of

    the Vindhyas guarded it on the south. Thus the

    Magadha empire was secured from all the sides.

    2/Both the capitals of the Magadha empire;

    Rajgir9 and Fataliputra10, were situated at very

    strategic points. Surrounded by a group of five

    hills, Rajgir had become quite impregnable.,

    Pataliputra was situated at the confluence

    of the Ganga, the Gandak and the SoneJ

    Thus Pataliputra occupied a pivotal position

    commanding communications on all sides.

    3.f According to early Buddhist and Jaina writers, the

    Vulers like Bimbisar, Ajatshatru and Mahapadam

    Nanda made a remarkable contribution in the

    expansion of the empire. They, by their policies,

    expanded and strengthened their kingdom and

    transformed it into a large empire. \

    4[ The huge iron deposits (in modem Jharkhand)

    splayed a vital role in the expansion of the

    Magadha empireVRichest iron deposits were

    situated not far away from Rajgir, the capital

    of Magadha. The ready availability of the rich

    iron ores in the neighbourhood of the capital

    enabled the Magadha kings to make themselves

    equipped with effective weapons. On the other,

    the effective iron weapons were not easily

    available to their rivals.

    5/ Magadha was a very prosperous empire. Being

    v situated in the middle Gangetic plain, it had very •

    fertile land. The jungles had been cleared off

    with the help of the iron tools and instruments

    and the area had sufficient rainfall^ Thus, the

    farmers were able (0 produce ctmsiderable

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    6i Magadha had a large army. It was composed

    of infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots.

    The army was equipped with effective

    weapons of iron. Magadh was the first state

    to have a powerful elephant unit in its army.J

    The elephants, in particular, were used in

    storming fortresses. Elephants were more useful

    than horses in marching over marshy areas.

    Undoubtedly, the large and powerful army made

    a significant contribution in the expansion of

    the Magadha empire.

    7. Magadha was more progressive as compared

    to other states. Here, the people known as non-

    Aryans were in majority and they were against

    the growth of orthodox and Brahamanical

    systems in the society. ThusTMagadha was

    more liberal as compared to other states and

    the Magadhan people were very enthusiastic

    for the expansion of their kingdom^

    [All these factors made an important contribution

    in the expansion of the Magadha empire and it

    developed into the first empire of India. ^

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