Tamil Nadu History NCERT Chap-5 Class 11

Chapter 5

The rise of Magadha and Alexander’s invasion

The rise of Magadha under Harynka, Sisunaga, and Nanda Dynasty:

two types of kingdom:
1)Monarchy = Ganga basin
2)Repblic = Foothills of Himalya à many were comprised of just  one tribe(ex- Lichchavi,Sakya,Mallas)

Beginning of 6^th cent (early Vedic phase) ==== 12 Janpada (proof= Angutara nikaya(Buddhist), some jain text)

MahaJanpada
location

mid 6^th cent (Later Vedic phase)===only 4 left=Mahajanpada=Kosala, vatsa,Avanti and Magadha.
--Matrimonial alliance + Dowry  prevalent for expansion of kingdom

Magadha:
--most prosperous
--Geography = fertile land in doab of Ganga + Iron ore(Rajgir) +Copper and iron (near Gaya)
--Political= Between busy trade route==Tarrif.

Rise of Magadha

Haryanka Dynasty

Bimbisar(546-494 BCE):
--Contemporary to to Mahavira and Buddha
--expended through Matrimonial alliance
--Numerous gift to Buddhist sangha

Ajatshatru(494-462 BCE):
--Millitary conquest = Kosala and Vaishali (Lichchavi tribes lived here)
--War with Vaishali= 16 year = after winning realized ===strategic importence of patliputraà fortified.
--Both Jaina and Buddhist claim Ajatshatru his follower
--He is said to have met Buddha ===proof ==meeting scene in  sculpture  of  Barhut(M.P).
--Built many  chaitya and vihara
--Organinsed  first Buddhist council (at Rajgir) under monk=Mahakashyapa; just after the death of the Buddha.

-------Weak successor

Saisunaga Dynasty

Saisunag:
--Organised 2^nd Buddhist council
--Kingdom collapsed after his death
--occupied by a  shudra  ruler Mahapdmananda

Nanda Dynasty

Mahapdmananda:
--1^st to led  consolidation of empire  -à even touched south and north India
--Shudra ==== destroyer of kshtriya ---Got title of ekarat
--Purana   = talks about his conquest.
-- Hathigumpha inscription = conquest of Kalinga
--Wealth of Nanda = Tamil  Sangam literature(Ahnanuru) is source
--Last ruler= Dhananda à operasive tax à popular movement by Chandragupta Morya  with Kaotilya
--It was this time(during Nanda dynasty--- 1 year before Morya rule)  when Alexender invaded India.


Persian and Greek invasion in India:

Persian Invasion(Iran):

Cyrus(558-530 BCE):
--Greatest ruler of Achaemenian empire empire.
--Conquered west of Indus === Gandhara

Darius 1 (522-486 BCE):
--brought Satrapi system(provincial governance) to India(now Pakistan)
--Conquered entire Indus Valley .

Xerexes (465-456 BCE):
--Strengthened his position in India.
--Deployed Indian infantry and cavalry to Greece  to fight his enemies. -à got Defeated .
--Getting defeated he was returning à while his rule was still intact in India.
--Alexender invaded after 200 year (327 BCE) india.

Impact of Persian Invasion
--Trade link with Iran flourished.
--Kharoshti script (Form of Iranian writing) introduced.
--Western part of Moryan empire === Prakrit language in Kharosti script =dilect=monolithic piller=sculpture
--Iranian influence was more impactfull then Greece(mecedonian)


Macedonian Invasion:
--Macedonia = Greece === Alexender came to throne after death of his father Philip
--occupied Perisa(Iran) à proceeded to recapture 20^th Satrapa of Persian empire= India(West)
--Political situation at eve of invasion:
                   --vanrious small  kingdom fighting against each other
                   --No unity ===even for common enemy
                   --Ambni ruler of Taxila , Porus ruled Jhelum and Chenab etc.
--Cause for invasion:
                   -- after conquerering Persia à greed for all its Satrapa(Provinces)
                   --west of Indus was old 20^th satrapa of Persia
                   --heard a lot about whealth of India===from Greek  writer Herodotus.
                   --Intrest in  Geograhical enquiry  + love for natural history= thought India was end of world
                                                                                   --Map of Alexender shows= only ocean in east of India.
--Battle of Hydepass(Jhelum):
                    --Between Porus and Alexender à Alexender won à return to kingdom to porus for brave fight.
                    --soldiers refused to penetrate further east à Home sickness, fatigue, army of Nanda.
Impact of Alexesnder Invasion:
--lesson of fragmented india à unification startedà Moryan empire
--New Land and sea route of trade to Greece