Janapadas

Overview

Early territorial polities emerging from Vedic tribes

Territory Phases

1. Kuru1000 BCE – 600 BCE

   Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kuru. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.

2. Panchala1000 BCE – 600 BCE

   Janapada (early territorial polity) of Panchala. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.

3. Kosala1000 BCE – 600 BCE

   Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kosala. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.

4. Kashi1000 BCE – 600 BCE

   Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kashi. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.

5. Videha1000 BCE – 600 BCE

   Janapada (early territorial polity) of Videha. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.

6. Gandhara1000 BCE – 600 BCE

   Janapada (early territorial polity) of Gandhara. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.

7. Kamboja1000 BCE – 600 BCE

   Janapada (early territorial polity) of Kamboja. Emerging from Vedic tribal organization into settled political units with defined territories.

8. Magadha600 BCE – 300 BCE

   Dominant Mahajanapada of Magadha. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

9. Kosala600 BCE – 300 BCE

   Mahajanapada of Kosala. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

10. Vatsa600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Vatsa. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

11. Avanti600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Avanti. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

12. Panchala600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Panchala. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

13. Kuru600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Kuru. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

14. Kashi600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Kashi. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

15. Chedi600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Chedi. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

16. Matsya600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Matsya. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

17. Gandhara600 BCE – 300 BCE

    Mahajanapada of Gandhara. One of the 16 great kingdoms/republics of the 6th–4th century BCE. Urbanized state with fortified cities, coinage, and new religious movements (Buddhism, Jainism).

Sources

1. Hand-drawn polygon
2. Thapar, R. (2002) Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300
3. Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1923/1996) Political History of Ancient India
4. Allchin, F.R. (1995) The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia
5. Buddhist Anguttara Nikaya(Canonical list of 16 Mahajanapadas)