☼ Rise of Magadha:-
• Ancient Magadha comprised of present patna and Gaya district of Bihar.
• The political history of India from 6th century BC onwards is the history of struggle between four states— Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti for supremacy.
• There is a reference to Magadha in the Mahabharata where it is stated that Brihadratha was the founder of kingdom of magadha.
• Magadha came into prominence when Bimbisara ascended the throne of Magadha in about 545 B.C.
• Bimbisara was the founder of Haryanka dynasty.
• Magadha was one of the mahajanapada of the Sixteen mahajanapadas.
• The Sixteen states taken together were known as Sarasamahajanapadas and they had fought for political hegemony for about 100 years.
• Ultimately the kingdom of Magadha emerged to be the most powerful one and succeeded in founding an empire.
• Causes of Magadha's success:-
(i) Magadha enjoyed an advantageous geographical position in the age of iron, because the richest iron deposits were situated not far away from Rajgir, the earliest capital of Magadha and could be used for making weapons.
(ii) Magadha lay at the centre of the middle Gangetic plain. The alluvium, once cleared of the jungles, proved immense fertile and food surplus was thus available.
(iii) Magadha enjoyed a special advantage in military organisation. Although the Indian states were well acquainted with the use of horses and chariots, it was Magadha which first used elephants on a large scale in its war against its neighbours.
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