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Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
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Magadha
Mahajanapada
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 700–321 BCE
The Mahajanapada that absorbed its rivals and became the base of the Mauryan Empire.
- Capital
- Rajagriha, later Pataliputra
- Region
- East
- Duration
- 379 years
- Main period
- Mahajanapadas
Changing extent
- c. 700 BCE — ~120 km radius
- c. 540 BCE — ~180 km radius: Anga annexed
- c. 460 BCE — ~280 km radius: Kosala and Vajji absorbed
- c. 345 BCE — ~520 km radius: Nanda expansion
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
Dynasties
| Dynasty | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Haryanka Dynasty | c. 544–413 BCE | Dynasty of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. |
| Shishunaga Dynasty | c. 413–345 BCE | Conquered Avanti; Kalashoka's reign saw the Second Buddhist Council. |
| Nanda Dynasty | c. 345–321 BCE | Rich, powerful dynasty overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya. |
Rulers
Haryanka Dynasty 544–413 BCE
- Bimbisara Kingc. 544–492 BCEAnnexed Anga; patron of the Buddha.
- Ajatashatru Kingc. 492–460 BCEDefeated the Vajji confederacy; built Pataligrama fort.
- Udayin Kingc. 460–444 BCEFounded Pataliputra as capital.
Shishunaga Dynasty 413–345 BCE
- Shishunaga Kingc. 413–395 BCEConquered Avanti.
- Kalashoka Kingc. 395–367 BCESecond Buddhist Council at Vaishali.
Nanda Dynasty 345–321 BCE
- Mahapadma Nanda Kingc. 345–329 BCECalled 'destroyer of all Kshatriyas' in the Puranas.
- Dhana Nanda Kingc. 329–321 BCELast Nanda, overthrown by Chandragupta.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 540 BCE | Bimbisara annexes Anga The first step in Magadha's expansion. |
Champa |
| c. 492 BCE | Ajatashatru becomes king of Magadha | Rajagriha |
| c. 483 BCE | First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha | Rajgir |
| c. 468 BCE | Ajatashatru defeats the Vajji confederacy | Vaishali |
| c. 460 BCE | Pataliputra becomes Magadha's capital | Pataliputra |
| c. 413 BCE | Shishunaga dynasty replaces the Haryankas Shishunaga later annexed Avanti. |
Magadha |
| c. 383 BCE | Second Buddhist Council at Vaishali | Vaishali |
| c. 345 BCE | Mahapadma Nanda founds the Nanda dynasty | Pataliputra |
Sites & monuments
Pataliputra
Capital / fort · c. 490 BCE
Capital of Magadha, the Mauryas and the Guptas.
📚 Recommended reading on the Magadha
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Magadha for a significant part of its history.
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Kuru
North · c. 1,200–350 BCE
Gandhara
Northwest · c. 1,200–518 BCE
Panchala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Kosala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–460 BCE
Videha
East · c. 1,100–600 BCE
Matsya
West · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Later Vedic Polities
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–600 BCE
Kashi
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–500 BCE
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Vatsa
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–400 BCE
Avanti
Central · c. 1,000–345 BCE
Surasena
North · c. 800–350 BCE
Kamboja
Northwest · c. 800–330 BCE
Anga
East · c. 700–540 BCE
Assaka / Asmaka
Deccan · c. 700–350 BCE
Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
Vajji / Vrijji Confederacy
East · c. 600–468 BCE
Malla
Gangetic Plain · c. 600–400 BCE
Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush
Northwest · c. 518–330 BCE
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE