The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c11.6

c11.6

It is likely that about the sixth century B.C. the whole of North India from Gandhâra in modern Afghânistân to the borders of Bengal was parcelled out roughly among sixteen principal states. Another list in the Dîgha Nikâya divides the central region of the North into seven states.¹ But neither the seven nor the sixteen seem to have constituted a permanent political system. They frequently warred with their neighbours; their boundaries would change and some would be annexed to others. By the beginning of the fifth century B.C. Kośala had conquered Kâśî, Magadha had conquered Aṅga and the Assakas were probably dependent on Avantî.² Besides the principal states there were others, dependent or independent, which filled the northern plains. Some of these were clan-oligarchies in their form of government.³ A list of ten such clans was compiled by Rhys Davids from Pâli records:—