NCERT HISTORY CLASS-VI
CHAPTER-V PART-II
TAXES
Unlike the Rulers of Janapadas, the Rulers of Mahajanapadas needed more resources than them in order to maintain their Armies, paying wages for them, building huge forts. So, they started to collect resources forcefully in the form of taxes instead of getting gifts from them and from the Raja of Janapadas too. Also, they appointed some officials to collect and maintain all the forms of taxes.
- Farmers - The taxes were fixed at 1/6th of what is produced, which is called Bhaga (share). These taxes on crops were the most important ones.
- Form of labor - Craft person, Smith, the weaver had to work one day in every month (1/30 days) for the King. This is because they don't have materially produced resources, Their labor is their resource.
- Herders - Taxes in the form of animals and animal-produced products.
- Traders - Taxes for all forms of trades where Goods were bought and sold.
- Hunters & Gatherers - Goods that are produced from forests.
AGRICULTURAL CHANGES
Actually, there are two changes that happened in agriculture around this time, Ploughshare replacement and the Transplantation of paddy.
The usage of wooden plowshare (which can be easily broken and not able to do hard work) is replaced by Iron plowshare, this increased the production of grains. And the transplantation of paddy is meant by planting the saplings in an ordered fashion instead of scattering the seeds. This increased the production as well. But the only drawback of this is, it is backbreaking work. so, slaves, Dasan, Dasi, and landless agricultural laborers were forced to do it.
EXPLORING MAGADHA
The most important Mahajanapadas of all time is Magadha, many rivers such as The Ganga and the Son flows through it. The three very powerful rulers of Magadha were
1. Bhimbisara
2. Ajatasattu
3. Mahapadma Nanda
They all conquered all the Janapadas as they can and extended their power of influence around the subcontinent. At first, the capital of Magadha was Rajagriha in Bihar for many years. After that, the capital city is changed to Pataliputra (Patna). This Mahajanapada was considered more important than others because
- The land is more fertile there.
- More water resources.
- For transportation.
- Most of the places were forests, also many Elephants lived there, which were trained and used for armies.
The great Alexander from Macedonia, Europe who wanted to conquer all over the world. But, he achieved many parts in Egypt, West Asia, and till the Banks of Beas. He wanted to move further but his Armies were refused to march against the Rulers of India because they were scared by the large armies and Big Elephants.
EXPLORING VAJJI
Vajji is also a powerful kingdom with different forms of government which is called GANA (group of members) or SANGHA (organization/association). This Vajji had its capital city in Vaishali, Bihar. This Gana or Sangha not only had one ruler, but it also had thousands of men as Rulers. They all performed their rituals together, Discuss and Debate on things that had to be done, making decisions, and making peace. No women, Dasan, Kammakaras were allowed to take place in these discussions. Both Buddha and Mahavira belonged to this sangha. Even though many Rajas were tried to capture these Sangha, It lasts for a long time till around 1500 BP. The last sangha was captured by a Gupta Ruler.