Ancient History Notes-4 UPSC CSE
The advent of iron age facilitated tools for agriculture and weaponry. This advancement catapulted human race towards the new dawn of civilization. Firstly, with the use of iron blades and ploughshare, people were able to cut forest and plough land for agricultural expansion. Settled agriculture facilitated taxation system and sustained large kingdoms.
Gradually, tribal kingdoms gave way to territorial empires.
Use of iron as war weapons, further facilitated expansion and consolidation of smaller kingdoms into large empires. Emergence of Mahajanapadas from Janapadas
The Janapadas were the major kingdoms of Vedi India. During that period, Aryans were the most powerful tribes and were called ‘Janas’. This gave rise to the term Janapada where Jana means ‘people’ and Pada means ‘foot’. Political centre shifted from the west of the Indo-Gangetic plains to the eastern side of it. This was due to better fertility of the land because of more rainfall and rivers. Also, this region was closer to…
