ECONOMIC CONDITION OF JANAPADA AND MAHAJANAPADA PERIOD

Janapadas

The word Janapada literally means the land where the Jana set its foot, and settled down. Archaeologists have excavated a number of settlements in these Janapadas , such as, Purana Qila in Delhi, Hastinapura near Meerut, and Atranjikhera, near Etah (in Uttar Pradesh). They found that people lived in huts, and kept cattle as well as other animals. They also grew a variety of crops-rice, wheat, barley, pulses, sugarcane, sesame and mustard. 

They made earthen pots. Some of these were grey in colour, others were red. One special type of pottery found at these sites is known as Painted Grey Ware. As is obvious from the name, these grey pots had painted designs, usually simple lines and geometric patterns. 

Mahajanapadas

About 2500 years ago, some Janapadas became more important than others, and were known as Mahajanapadas. Most mahajanapadas had a capital city, many of these were fortified. This means that huge walls of wood, brick or stone were built around them. 

Forts were probably built because people were afraid of attacks from other kings and needed protection. It is also likely that some rulers wanted to show how rich powerful they were by building really large, tall and impressive walls around their cities. Also in this way, the land and the people living inside the fortified area could be controlled more easily by the king. Building such huge walls required a great deal of planning, Thousands, if not lakhs of bricks or stones had to be prepared. This in turn meant enormous labour, provided, possibly, by thousands of men, women and children. And resources had to be found for all of this.

The new rajas now began maintaining armies. Soldiers were paid regular salaries and maintained by the king throughout the year. Some payments were probably made using punch marked coins. 

The list of 16 Mahajanapadas

1. Kasi
2. Kosala
3. Anga
4. Magadha
5. Vajji
6. Malla
7. Chedi
8. Vatsa
9. Kuru
10. Panchala
11. Matsya
12. Surasena
13. Assaka
14. Avanti
15. Gandhara
16. Kamboja

Punch - marked Coins 

Punch-marked coins were generally rectangular or sometimes square or round in shape, either cut out of metal sheets or made out of flattened metal globules. The coins were not inscribed, but were stamped with symbols using dies or punches. Hence, they are called punch-marked coins. These coins are found over most parts of the subcontinent and remained in circulation till the early centuries CE.

Economic Condition of Mahajanapadas and Janapadas

The basis of the economic life of the period was agriculture. One-tenth of the, produce of the soil had to be paid as land revenue. The agricultural land was divided into small plots and for the pur­pose of irrigation, cultivation and conservation of water cooperative system was followed. Famine was not altogether unknown but it was of very rare occurrence.

Besides agriculture, animal husbandry was an important source of economic life. Arts and industries like ivory work, mural paint­ing, stone-carving etc. were highly developed at that time. Business was carried on both within and without the country. Bharuch, Tamralipti, Sopara etc. were the important ports of the time through which water-borne trade with Burma, Ceylon, Malaya, Babylonia etc. was carried on. Silk, gold, embroidered cloth were the principal merchandise. There are proofs of co-operative system in the trade and commerce of the period. The medium of exchange was copper and silver Karshapana. The silver Karshapana was also known as Dharan. A silver Karshapana was one-tenth in value of the Vedic Niska.

Different Taxes of Mahajanapadas and Janapadas Period 

As the rulers of the mahajanapadas were building huge forts, maintaining big armies, they need more resources. And they needed officials to collect these. So, instead of depending on occasional gifts brought by people, as in the case of the raja of the janapadas, they started collecting regular taxes. 

• Taxes on crops were the most important. This was because most people were farmers. Usually, the tax was fixed at 1/6th of what was,produced. This was known as bhaga or a share. 

• There were taxes on crafts persons as well. These could have been in the form of labour. For example, a weaver or a smith may have had to work for a day every month for the king.

• Herders were also expected to pay taxes in the form of animals and animal produce.

• There were also taxes on goods that were bought and sold, through trade.

• And hunters and gatherers also had to provide forest produce to the raja.