The history of the emergence of Mahajanapadas can be linked to the development of eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar during the 6th to 4th century BCE where agriculture flourished due to the availability of fertile lands and iron production increased due to availability of iron ore in large quantities. This resulted in the expansion of the territories of the Janapadas (due to the use of iron weapons) and later addressed as 16 highly developed regions or the Mahajanapadas.
( LIST OF MAHAJANPADAS WITH PRESENT LOCATION)
MAHAJANPADAS<> CAPITAL<>MODERN LOCATION
1-Anga <>Champa<> Munger and Bhagalpur
2- Magadha<>Girivraja/ Rajagriha<>Gaya and Patna
3- Kasi/Kashi <> Kasi <> Banaras
4- Vatsa <> Kausambi <> Allahabad
5- Kosala <> Shravasti (northern),Kushavati (southern) <> Eastern Uttar Pradesh
6- Shurasena <>Mathura <> Western Uttar Pradesh
7- Panchala <> Ahichchatra and Kampilya <> Western Uttar Pradesh
8- Kuru <> Indraprastha <> Meerut and Southeastern Haryana
9- Matsya <> Viratanagara <> Jaipur
10- Chedi <> Sothivati <> Bundelkhand region
11- Avanti <> Ujjaini or Mahismati <> Malwa and Madhya Pradesh
12- Gandhara <> Taxila <> Rawalpindi
13- Kamboja <> Poonch <> Rajouri and Hajra (Kashmir), NWFP (Pakistan)
14- Asmaka or Assaka <> Potali/Podana <> Banks of Godavari
15- Vajji <> Vaishali <> Bihar
16- Malla <> Kusinara <> Deoria and Uttar Pradesh
