Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic

How Some Men Became Rulers

• Around 3000 years ago, some men became recognised as rajas by performing very big sacrifices.
• Ashvamedha or horse sacrifice was an important ritual to show power.

→ The raja who organised the sacrifice was recognised as powerful, and others brought him gifts.

Varnas

• Priests divided people into four groups called Varnas.
• The Varna of a person was decided by birth.

• Brahmins: Studied and taught the Vedas, performed sacrifices, and received gifts.
• Kshatriyas: Fought battles and protected people.
• Vaishyas (Vish): Farmers, herders, and traders. Could perform sacrifices.
• Shudras: Served the other three Varnas. Could not perform rituals or study the Vedas. Women were often grouped here.

Janapadas

• Rajas who performed sacrifices became rulers of Janapadas.
• The word Janapada means "the land where the Jana set foot and settled".
• People lived in huts, kept cattle, and grew crops like rice, wheat, barley, pulses, sugarcane, sesame, and mustard.
• They made both red and grey earthen pots. A special type of pottery called Painted Grey Ware was found.

Mahajanapadas

• About 2500 years ago, some Janapadas grew larger and became known as Mahajanapadas.
• Most had capital cities with large forts made of wood, brick, or stone for protection.

Taxes

• Rulers needed more resources for armies and forts, so they began collecting taxes regularly.
• Taxes came from farmers, herders, craft persons, traders, and hunters according to their work.

Changes in Agriculture

• The use of iron ploughshares increased grain production.
• Transplantation of paddy began—plants were grown first and then planted in fields.

→ This method led to higher yields, as more plants survived.

A Closer Look — Magadha

• Magadha became the most powerful Mahajanapada about 2000 years ago.
• Rivers like the Ganga and Son provided water, transport, and fertile land.
• Famous rulers included Bimbisara and Ajatasattu.
• First capital: Rajagriha (Bihar), Second capital: Pataliputra.

A Closer Look — Vajji

• Vajji had its capital at Vaishali (in Bihar).
• It followed a different form of government called gana or sangha.
• In a sangha, many rajas shared power and met in assemblies to make decisions.
• Women, dasas, and kammakaras were not allowed in the assemblies.
• Both the Buddha and Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas.
• The sanghas lasted until they were conquered by the Gupta rulers around 1500 years ago.

MCQs – Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic

1. Who became rulers by performing big sacrifices?

(a) Farmers

(b) Traders

(c) Rajas

(d) Craftsmen

► (c) Rajas

2. The Ashvamedha was a ritual performed by a

(a) Merchant

(b) Teacher

(c) Raja

(d) Brahmin

► (c) Raja

3. Who divided society into four varnas?

(a) Rajas

(b) Priests

(c) Merchants

(d) Warriors

► (b) Priests

4. What was the duty of Shudras?

(a) Perform rituals

(b) Trade and business

(c) Serve the other varnas

(d) Fight battles

► (c) Serve the other varnas

5. Which of the following became Mahajanapadas?

(a) Small villages

(b) Powerful janapadas

(c) Groups of nomads

(d) Forest dwellers

► (b) Powerful janapadas

6. The capital of Magadha was

(a) Vaishali

(b) Ujjain

(c) Rajagriha

(d) Kalinga

► (c) Rajagriha

7. Vaishali was the capital of which Mahajanapada?

(a) Magadha

(b) Vajji

(c) Kuru

(d) Avanti

► (b) Vajji

8. Vajji was ruled by a

(a) Monarch

(b) Republican system

(c) Military leader

(d) Sage

► (b) Republican system

9. Which king expanded Magadha using elephants and iron tools?

(a) Ashoka

(b) Ajatashatru

(c) Chandragupta

(d) Harshavardhana

► (b) Ajatashatru

10. Magadha’s geographical advantage came from

(a) Iron ore mines

(b) Desert land

(c) Himalayan passes

(d) Seaports

► (a) Iron ore mines

11. Taxes collected from people were called

(a) Lagaan

(b) Dhan

(c) Bhaga

(d) Sona

► (c) Bhaga

12. People in forests paid taxes through

(a) Salt

(b) Wood

(c) Labour

(d) Iron tools

► (c) Labour

13. Forts were built in Mahajanapadas for

(a) Beauty

(b) Festivals

(c) Protection

(d) Trade

► (c) Protection

14. Which tool improved agriculture in Mahajanapadas?

(a) Bronze plough

(b) Stone axe

(c) Iron ploughshare

(d) Wooden hoe

► (c) Iron ploughshare

15. The rulers needed more resources to

(a) Expand libraries

(b) Build hospitals

(c) Maintain armies and forts

(d) Marry princesses

► (c) Maintain armies and forts

16. Who was not allowed to study the Vedas?

(a) Kshatriyas

(b) Brahmins

(c) Vaishyas

(d) Shudras

► (d) Shudras

17. Decisions in Vajji republics were made by

(a) Sabha

(b) King

(c) Ministers

(d) Elected rulers

► (d) Elected rulers

18. The life stories of rajas and Mahajanapadas are found in

(a) Ramayana

(b) Bible

(c) Buddhist and Jain texts

(d) Mahabharata

► (c) Buddhist and Jain texts