Janapada

The Janapadas (lit.'Foothold of the people') (pronounced [dʑɐnɐpɐdɐ]) (c. 1100–600 BCE) were the realms, republics (ganapada) and kingdoms (sāmarājya) of the Vedic period in the Indian subcontinent. The Vedic period reaches from the late Bronze Age into the Iron Age: from about 1500 BCE to the 6th century BCE. With the rise of sixteen Mahajanapadas ("great janapadas"), most of the states were annexed by more powerful neighbours, although some remained independent.[1]

Late Vedic era map showing the boundaries of Āryāvarta with Janapadas in northern India. Beginning of Iron Age kingdoms in India— Kuru, Panchala, Kosala, Videha.
Locations of kingdoms and republics mentioned in the Indian epics or Bharata Khanda.
  1. ^ Misra 1973, p. 18.