The Mahajanapadas Ø From the 6 th century BC, iron tools and its implements began to be used widely which helped in the production of surplus foodgrains. Ø The surplus of the production were collected by the princes to meet their military and administrative needs. Thus, new towns came into existence as people started to lead a settled life, to stick to their land and also expanded at the cost of the neighbouring virgin areas. Ø The rise of the large states with towns as their capital strengthened the territorial idea. Ø In the 6 th century BC, there existed 16 large states or Mahajanapadas in India, namely, Kashi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboj. · The Locations and Capitals of the Mahajanapadas: Ø Kashi : It was located on the confluence of rivers Ganga and Gomoti(present day Varanasi d...