Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.408

c7.408

However, its prime duty was to provide protection for the people from external attacks and to encourage the prosperity of the political community. It was responsible for the internal administration and maintenance of law and order within its territory. It is probable that this form of government marked a development in the political institutions of Vedic India and was a transitional stage between the *sabhā-samiti* republic of the Atharvan period and the hereditary monarchy of the later Vedic period. The "chief noble" in due course acquired too much power, rising far above his equals, and the *samiti* shrank to a smaller size and began to be called a *pariṣad*. The noble's son, once appointed by his father, became the hereditary king and the *samiti* became the king's council.