Question

Answer all the questions given under caption.

The Rise of Magadha Kingdom.

1. Where was political power concentrated?
2. Mention the advisory bodies
3. Mention the powerful kingdoms of this period.
4. How did Bimbisara gain access to the Ganges delta?

Answer 1

1. Political power was concentrated in the ruling family which had become a dynasty with succession becoming hereditary.
2. There were advisory bodies such as Parishad (ministers) and Sabha (advisory council). The Sabha collected the revenue and remitted it to the treasury.
3. Kashi, Kosala, and Magadha were the powerful Kingdoms of this period. The only republic that rivaled their kingdoms was Vrijis whose capital was Vaishali.
4. Through matrimonial alliances with the high-status Lichchavi clan of Vaishali and the ruling family in Kosala, Bimbisara went on to conquer Anga (in West Bengal now) thereby gaining access to the Ganges delta.