Category 5 · Ancient History

Religious Movements, Mahajanapadas and Foreign Invasions

13 micro topics in Ancient History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Causes of the Rise of New Religious Movements in the Sixth Century BC; Vardhamana Mahavira and Jainism; and 11 more.

1. 5.1

   Causes of the Rise of New Religious Movements in the Sixth Century BC

   In the sixth to fifth centuries BC about sixty-two sects arose in the mid-Gangetic plains, of which Jainism and Buddhism were the most important. Causes were varna tensions and the kshatriya reaction against brahmana privilege, the…

2. 5.2

   Vardhamana Mahavira and Jainism

   Jainism holds that Vardhamana Mahavira was the twenty-fourth tirthankara; its earliest important teachings are attributed to Parshvanatha, the twenty-third. Born in a kshatriya clan near Vaishali, Mahavira left home at thirty, wandered twelve years, attained kaivalya…

3. 5.3

   Doctrines, Spread and Contribution of Jainism

   Jainism teaches five vows (non-violence, truth, no stealing, no hoarding, continence), the triratna of right knowledge, faith and action, and liberation without ritual. It admitted men and women, used Prakrit, spread to the south and west,…

4. 5.4

   Gautama Buddha and the Rise of Buddhism

   Gautama Buddha, born (tradition: 567 BC) in the Shakya kshatriya clan at Lumbini near Kapilavastu, left home at 29, sought truth for about seven years and attained enlightenment at 35 at Bodh-Gaya. He gave his first…

5. 5.5

   Doctrines and Features of Buddhism and Causes of its Spread

   Buddhism teaches that the world is full of sorrow caused by desire, that conquering desire brings nirvana, and that the eightfold path and middle path lead to it. It does not recognise god or soul, opposes…

6. 5.6

   Buddhist Councils, Decline of Buddhism and its Significance

   Four Buddhist councils (Rajgriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra under Ashoka, Kashmir under Kanishka) fixed the Tripitakas and recorded sectarian splits into Sthaviravadins, Mahasanghikas and later Mahayana and Hinayana. Buddhism declined by the twelfth century through ritualisation, Sanskrit and…

7. 5.7

   Ajivikas, Charvakas and Other Heterodox Sects

   Alongside Jainism and Buddhism, the Samannaphala Sutta names six teachers: Purana Kassapa, Makkhali Gosala, Ajita Kesakambalin, Pakudha Kacchayana, Sanjaya Belatthiputta and Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira). The Ajivikas under Gosala preached niyati (fate), and the materialist Ajita Kesakambalin…

8. 5.8

   Second Urbanisation and Rural Economy in the Age of the Buddha

   From about 500 BC the Northern Black Polished Ware phase saw the second urbanisation in the mid-Gangetic plains: towns such as Kaushambi, Shravasti, Varanasi, Vaishali, Rajgir and Pataliputra, guilds, punch-marked coins and long-distance trade. It rested…

9. 5.9

   The Mahajanapadas and the Republican Experiment

   By the age of the Buddha janapadas had grown into sixteen mahajanapadas, of which Magadha, Koshala, Vatsa and Avanti were powerful, in the upper and mid-Gangetic plains and north-west. Some, like the Vajjis (Lichchhavis) and the…

10. 5.10

    Rise and Growth of the Magadhan Empire

    Magadha rose under Bimbisara (544 to 492 BC, Buddhist chronicles) through conquest of Anga and marriage alliances, grew under Ajatashatru (492 to 460 BC) who defeated Kashi, Koshala and the Lichchhavis, and under Udayin built a…

11. 5.11

    Varna System, Social Orders and Legislation in the Age of the Buddha

    In the age of the Buddha the Dharmasutras set out the duties of the four varnas and based civil and criminal law on varna, imposing disabilities on shudras and punishing higher varnas less severely. Kings, assisted…

12. 5.12

    Iranian Invasion of North-West India and its Results

    Taking advantage of the disunity of Kambojas, Gandharas and Madras, the Achaemenian ruler Darius annexed the Punjab west of the Indus and Sindh in 516 BC, making it the twentieth satrapy, paying 360 talents of gold.…

13. 5.13

    Alexander’s Invasion and its Effects

    Alexander of Macedonia entered India through the Khyber pass in 326 BC, took advantage of the disunity of the north-west, received the submission of Ambhi of Taxila, defeated Porus on the Jhelum, and turned back at…

← All Ancient History categories

Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Religious Movements, Mahajanapadas and Foreign Invasions?

Religious Movements, Mahajanapadas and Foreign Invasions has 13 micro topics in Ancient History: Causes of the Rise of New Religious Movements in the Sixth Century BC; Vardhamana Mahavira and Jainism; Doctrines, Spread and Contribution of Jainism; Gautama Buddha and the Rise of Buddhism; Doctrines and Features of Buddhism and Causes of its Spread; Buddhist Councils, Decline of Buddhism and its Significance; Ajivikas, Charvakas and Other Heterodox Sects; Second Urbanisation and Rural Economy in the Age of the Buddha; The Mahajanapadas and the Republican Experiment; Rise and Growth of the Magadhan Empire; Varna System, Social Orders and Legislation in the Age of the Buddha; Iranian Invasion of North-West India and its Results; Alexander’s Invasion and its Effects.

Is Religious Movements, Mahajanapadas and Foreign Invasions important for UPSC Prelims?

Religious Movements, Mahajanapadas and Foreign Invasions is a part of the UPSC Prelims Ancient History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 13 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.