Magadha
kingdom in ancient India
Magadha (IPA: [məɡəd̪ʰaː]) was a region and kingdom in ancient India, based in the eastern Ganges Plain. It was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas during the Second Urbanization period. The region was ruled by several dynasties, which overshadowed, conquered, and incorporated the other Mahajanapadas. Magadha played an important role in the development of Jainism and Buddhism and formed the core of the Haryankan Empire, Nanda Empire, Mauryan Empire, Shunga Empire and Gupta Empire.
Geography
The territory of the Magadha kingdom proper before its expansion was bounded to the north, west, and east respectively by the Gaṅgā, Son, and Campā rivers, and the eastern spurs of the Vindhya mountains formed its southern border. The territory of the initial Magadha kingdom thus corresponded to the modern-day Patna and Gaya districts of the Indian state of Bihar.
The region of Greater Magadha also included neighbouring regions in the eastern Gangetic plains, and had a distinct culture and belief.
History
Vedic period (ca. 1200 BCE-6th cent. BCE)
In the Atharvaveda (5.22) (ca.
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