Question

The History of Pataliputra

Each city had a history of its own. Pataliputra, for instance, began as a village known as Pataligrama. Then, in the fifth century BCE, the Magadhan rulers decided to shift their capital from Rajagaha to this settlement and renamed it. By the fourth century BCE, it was the capital of the Mauryan Empire and one of the largest cities in Asia. Subsequently, its importance apparently declined. When the Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang visited the city in the seventh century CE, he found it in ruins, and with a very small population.

Examine the main impact of the shift from Rajagaha to Pataliputra, on the Magadhan empire.

Hint:

Capital relocation helped the Mauryan Empire expand more efficiently due to better location and infrastructure.

Answer 1

The shift from Rajagaha to Pataliputra marked a significant transformation for the Magadhan empire. It allowed for better administrative control and strategic governance due to Pataliputra’s central location and fertile surroundings. As a result, Pataliputra grew into a major political and cultural hub, eventually becoming the capital of the Mauryan Empire and one of the largest cities in Asia during the fourth century BCE.