Agriculture, story of Magadha & Vajji

AGRICULTURE

Two major changes in agriculture were seen about 2500 years ago.

• The Growing Use of Iron Ploughshares

• • Heavy, clayey soil turned over better than with wooden ploughshares so that it produced more grain.

• People began transplanting paddy
  • Instead of scattering seeds on the ground, saplings were grown and then planted in the fields

• • This led to increased production, as many more plants survived..

However it was back breaking work, generally done by slave men and women, and landless agricultural labourers.Known as dasa,dasis and kammakaras respectively.

STORY OF MAGADHA

MAGADHA:

The most important Mahajanapadas in about two hundred years ago.

Reasons for its importance:

• The Ganga river and the Son river flowed through Magadha.

These rivers were important for

• • Transport
  • Water supplies
  • Making the land fertile
• Parts of Magadha were forested.
  • Elephants lived in the forest,captured and trained for the army.
  • Forests provided wood for building houses, carts and chariots.
• There were iron ore mines in this region
  • That could be tapped to make strong tools and weapons.

Magadha - A Powerful Mahajanapada

• Magadha had two powerful rulers- Bimbisara and Ajatasattu, who used all possible means to conquer other Janapadas.

• Besides them,Mahapadma Nanda extended his control up to the north - west part of the subcontinent.

• Rajagriha (present day Rajgir) in Bihar was the capital of Magadha for several years.
• Later the capital shifted to Pataliputra (present day Patna).

Alexander-  Wanted to become a World Conquer

• More than 2300 years ago, Alexander lived in Macedonia in Europe.

• Of Course did not conquer the world but did conquer parts of Egypt and West Asia.
• And came to the Indian subcontinent, reaching up to the banks of the Beas.
• He marched towards eastwards but his soldiers refused to move further.
• As they were scared of the vast armies of foot soldiers, chariots and elephants of the Indian rulers.

STORY OF VAJJI

• The capital of Vajji was Vaishali( Bihar).

THE GANA OR THE SANGHA:

• Vajji had a different form of government, known as Gana or Sangha.
  • Not one but many rulers in a Gana or Sangha.
  • Even thousands ruled together.
  • Each known as Raja.
    • These Rajas performed rituals together.
    • They met in regular assemblies.
    • Through discussion and debate, they planned and act accordingly
    • Women , dasas and kammakaras were not allowed to participate in these assemblies.
• Both Lord Buddha and Swami Mahavira belonged to Ganas or Sanghas.

LICCHAVI

• The most vivid descriptions of life in the Sanghas are found in Buddhist books.

A famous Buddhist book - Digha Nikaya

• • Contains some speeches of the Buddha
  • Written down about 2300 years ago

Ajatasattu and the Vajjis

      (An account of the Vajjis from the Digha Nikaya)

• Ajatasattu wanted to attack the Vajjis to expand his kingdom.
• He was the great follower of Lord Buddha.

• Sent his minister ,Vassakara to the Buddha to get his advice on the matter.
• The Buddha asked him whether the Vajjis assembled frequently,then they would continue to prosper.
  • Where they established rules with mutual understanding.
  • Elders,women ,Chaityas(local shrines) and saints were respected.

CAME TO AN END:

• Rajas of powerful kingdoms tried to conquer the Sanghas to extend his boundary.
• The Gan/ Sangha - A Form of Government lasted for several years- till about 1500 years ago.
• The last of the ganas or Sanghas were conquered by the Gupta rulers .