Mahajanapada Era: Emergence of Early State Administration

Before the Mahajanapada era, ancient India's administrative system was based on smaller, tribal Janapadas, with authority vested in chiefs or rajans. Their power was limited by tribal councils like the Sabha and Samiti, and they relied on voluntary contributions rather than a formal tax system. The administration was decentralized, with loyalty focused on the clan rather than a fixed territory. This tribal polity contrasted sharply with the larger, more centralized states that would emerge during the Mahajanapada period.

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Key Administrative Features

  • Executive
    • Most Mahajanapadas were monarchies, ....
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Indian History