Magadha as an Empire

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Republics & Kingdoms | Magadha as Empire | Ajatashatru | Gautam Buddha | Vardhamana Mahavira | Nandas | Alexander | Battle of Hydaspes  The battle of eminence in the region among the four states of Kashi, Koshala, Magadha and the Vrijis lasted for about a hundred years. Magadha emerged victorious and established itself as the center of political activity in northern India, a position which it maintained for some centuries to come. The first important king of Magadha was Bimbisara: a man of determination and political foresight. He realized the potentialities of a large state controlling the river and decided that it should be Magadha. Bimbisara reigned from 544 B.C. to 493 B.C. Dynastic relations based on marriage both with the royal house of Koshala and with a princess from Vaishali assisted him in his expansionist policy. Having thus secured his western and northern frontiers he went on to conquer Anga to the south-east, which controlled the trade and the routes to the sea ports in the gange delta, which in turn had commercial links with the coast of Burma and the east coast of India and was thus economically a valuable support to the kingdom of Magadha. Bimbisara was the earliest of Indian kings to stress the need for efficient administration. His ministers were hand picked and he was reputed never to ignore their advice. Officers were divided into various categories according to their work, and the beginning of an administrative framework took root. The building of roads was recognized as essential to good administration. The basic unit of social and economic organization in general remained the village. Officials were appointed to measure the land under cultivation and evaluate the crop. Each village was under the jurisdiction of a headman who was responsible for collecting taxes, which were brought to the royal treasury by the other officials. next page >>

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