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7. FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES 6th century BCE - many  territorial states emerged which led to the transformation of socio-economic and political life of the people    ROLE OF IRON IN A CHANGING SOCIETY use of iron ploughshares improved agricultural productivity Agrarian surplus and increase in craft products resulted in the emergence of trading and exchange centres knowledge in the use of iron gave Magadha an advantage over other Mahajanapadas   GANA - SANGHAS AND KINGDOMS Gana-Sanghas - [gana - people of equal status, sangha - assembly] non monarchial states ruled by an elite group, practiced egalitarian traditions Kingdoms - [territory ruled by king or queen]  monarchial state, adhered to orthodox vedic traditions   JANAPADAS   earliest gathering places, smaller kingdoms   MAHAJANAPADAS  wide-spread use of iron helped in formation of large territorial units     SIXTEEN MAHAJANAPADAS Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Kasi, Kuru, Kosa...

  6. GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITHS 6th century BCE - important period  in the intellectual and spiritual development in India Historian Will Durant has rightly  called it the “shower of stars”     LITERARY SOURCES Angas – Jain texts Tripitakas and Jatakas - Buddhis t texts       CAUSES FOR THE RISE OF INTELLECTUAL AWAKENING AND THE BIRTH OF BUDDHISM AND JAINISM The complex rituals and sacrifices  advocated in the later Vedic period Expensive sacrificial ceremonies Slavery, caste system, gender discrimination also contributed to the new awakening     JAINISM 6th century BCE one of the world’s oldest living  religions Jainism grounds itself in 24 Tirthankaras first Tirthankara was Rishabha and  the last one was Mahavira JAINISM -  Sanskrit word 'Jina'  meaning conquering self and the external world     MAHAVIRA (THE GREAT HERO) Kshatriya prince At 30, adopt an ascetic life A...