DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL
Secunderabad
NACHARAM | MAHENDRA HILLS | NADERGUL
SUBJECT: SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS:VI
HISTORY
CHAPTER 6
THE EARLY STATES -JANAPADAS AND MAHAPADAS
NOTES
GLOSSARY TERMS:
● Gana -Sangha - A group that has many members. Organization or association of early
republic in later Vedic period.
● State – an independent territory.
● Monarchy -a Kingdom ruled by a king.
● Republic - Region whose ruler is elected by the people.
● Jana pada – a tribal state ruled by a Rajan.
● Mahajan pada – a large and powerful Jana pada.
● Guild – an association of people engaged in the same profession or occupation
● Confederacy – a union
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. Define a state ?
Ans. A state is a political organization that has sovereignty over a geographical area, which
means that its government is free from outside control.
2.What are the main sources of information about the later Vedic period ?
Ans . The sources of information about the Later Vedic Period are various Buddhist, Jain and
Vedic texts such as the Jataka Tales, the Brahmanas, the Upanishads, the Ramayana and the
Mahabharata.
3.Why are taxes collected by the rulers of Mahajan padas ?
Ans. The rulers of the mahajanapadas imposed taxes to administer the land and to maintain
a large army for defending their kingdom.
4. Discuss the difference between the Monarchies and Republics that emerged in the later
Vedic period..
Ans -.
Monarchies Republics
They were mostly concentrated in the They were located in the less fertile tracts of
Gangetic plains land such as, the foothills of the Himalayas
and in northwestern India.
They were states ruled by kings or monarchs They were ruled by a ganapati, who was
considered a chief rather than a king.
Kingship was hereditary. It passed on from The office of the chief, was not hereditary.
father to son. The king was considered People or members of an assembly choose
divine. or elected their ruler.
Eg- : Magadha, Avanti, Vatsa, Kosala, Eg: Vajji, Shakya, Malla, Yadava
Kamboja, Kuru, Kasi, Gandhara, Panchala,
Surasena, Matsya,Anga.
5. Analyse the reasons behind the growth of Magadha as the most powerful Mahajan pada.
Ans - 1. Strategic Location: Magadha was situated near the Ganges River, which provided
fertile land for agriculture and easy access to trade routes.
2. Strong Rulers: Kings like Bimbisara and Ajatashatru were powerful leaders who expanded
Magadha's territory and strengthened its military.
3. Use of War Elephants: Magadha was the first kingdom to use elephants in warfare, giving it a
significant advantage in battles.
4. Effective Administration: The rulers of Magadha implemented efficient administrative
systems and policies, which helped maintain control over the vast kingdom.
6.Why did the ‘rajas’ of ‘mahajanapadas’ build forts?
A. The rajas of mahajanapadas built forts
● to protect their kingdoms from invasions, to control and secure their territory
● to showcase their power and wealth
● to create a central place for administration and governance.
4.Name the Buddhist text that gives information about the society of this period?
A) Jataka Tales, the Braanas, the Upanishads and the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
