Question

What are the sources that provide us with information about the Janapadas and the Mahajanapadas?

Answer 1

Instructions: Your answer should have the following points:

• Mention archaeological excavations ​as a source.
• Mention books that act as a ​source and what they talk about.

Solution:

• The archaeological excavation of different places provides us with information about the villages and towns of the Janapadas and Mahajanapadas. ​
• Some important archaeological sites were Delhi, Atranjikhera, Kausambi ​(Near Allahabad), Patna, Ayodhya, and Rajgir.​
• The books written during that period were mostly religious in nature.​
• They were written by Brahmins, Buddhists and Jaina monks. ​
• Even though they were religious in nature, these books provide us with information about the towns and villages, about the kings and their kingdoms of those times. ​
• Some of these books were even written by people living in far-off lands such as Greece. ​
• Some important books written during this period were Upanishads, Dharmasutras, Digha Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya, Herodotus’ History, Strabo etc.