Mahajanapadas and Rise of Kingdoms (c. 600–300 BCE)

Alexander the Great's Invasion (326 BCE)

Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BCE during his campaign to conquer the Persian Empire and beyond.
The invasion was part of Alexander's ambition to create a vast empire extending from Greece to the Indus Valley.
The invasion was preceded by the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia, which controlled parts of northwestern India.
Alexander crossed the Hindu Kush mountains to enter the Indian subcontinent.
He encountered fierce resistance from the Indian ruler King Porus (Puru

The period between 600–300 BCE witnessed significant religious and philosophical movements in ancient India.
These movements arose as a reaction to the Brahmanical orthodoxy and complex rituals of the Vedic period.
The two most prominent religious movements were Buddhism and Jainism.
Both movements emphasized non-violence (Ahimsa), renunciation, and equality.
The social backdrop of these movements included growing urbanization, the rise of the merchant c

Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada in ancient India during the 6th century BCE.
Its strategic location between the rivers Ganga and Son provided fertile land and waterways for trade and agriculture.
The initial capital of Magadha was Rajagriha, later shifted to Pataliputra.
Magadha’s rise was facilitated by abundant natural resources like iron, used for weapons and tools.
Its early rulers, Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, played

The term "Mahajanapadas" refers to the sixteen large kingdoms that emerged during the 6th century BCE in ancient India.
The rise of Mahajanapadas marked the transition from tribal societies to organized states.
The sixteen Mahajanapadas were mentioned in the ancient text Anguttara Nikaya.
The Mahajanapadas were spread across the Indo-Gangetic plains, parts of Punjab, and central India.
Each Mahajanapada had its own capital city and governance structure.
The two types of states we