According to a Buddhist text, how many oligarchic republics or kingdoms, called Mahajanapadas, ruled ancient India during the 6th to 4th centuries BCE?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. 16.
- According to a Buddhist text, 16 oligarchic republics or kingdoms, called Mahajanapadas, ruled ancient India during the 6th to 4th centuries BCE.
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These sixteen Mahajanapadas were either monarchies or republics.
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Monarchies were primarily located in the Gangetic Plains.
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Republics were mostly found around the Himalayan foothills and in northwestern India, in present-day Punjab.
- These Mahajanapadas are listed in the text as follows:
- Kasi
- Kosala
- Anga
- Magadha
- Vajji (or Vriji)
- Malla
- Chedi
- Vatsa (or Vamsa)
- Kuru
- Panchala
- Matsya
- Surasena
- Assaka (or Asmaka)
- Avanti
- Gandhara
- Kamboja