Question

Arrange the following Magadhan dynasties in chronological order:
1. Nandas
2. Shishunaga
3. Mauryas
4. Haryankas

A. IV, II, III & I
B. II, I, IV & III
C. IV, II, I & III
D. III, I, IV & I

Answer 1

Hint:
Magadha was an ancient Indian kingdom in southern Bihar in India. One of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, the 'great countries' of ancient India.
It has been mentioned in the two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Complete step by step solution:

Haryanka Dynasty (c. 545-493 BCE)
- Bimbisara (545-493 BC) Magadha rose to power under the rule of Bimbisara, who belongs to the Haryanka family.
- He was a man of political conviction and foresight.
- In the second half of the 6th century BC, he became king.
- He added dignity and power to Magadha 's strategy of matrimonial alliances and annexations.

Shishunaga Dynasty (c. 413-395 BCE)
- Founded by Shishunaga
- He was initially an amatya (official) of the Magadha Empire under the Haryanka dynasty.
- The citizens who revolted against the rule of the Haryanka dynasty installed him on the throne.
- The Puranas tell us that he had put his son in Varanasi, and that he himself had ruled from Girivraja (Rajagriha).

Nanda Dynasty (c. 345-322 BCE)
- The Nanda family ruled the northern portion of the Indian subcontinent during the 4th century B.C. and probably during the 5th century B.C.
- The Nandas overthrew the Shishunaga dynasty in the Magadha region of eastern India and spread their empire to cover a greater portion of northern India.

Mauryan Empire (c. 321-185 BCE)
- The Maurya Empire was a geographically large historical force of the Iron Age headquartered in Magadha and established by Chandragupta Maurya.
- Comprising the bulk of South Asia, the Maurya Kingdom was centralised by the conquest of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and its capital city was situated in Pataliputra (modern Patna).


Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:
- The Mauryan kingdom was the largest political force in the Indian subcontinent, stretching over 5 million square kilometres (1.9 million square miles) at its zenith under Ashoka.
- Magadha played an important part in the growth of Jainism and Buddhism, and two of India's main empires.