ICSE Class 6 Answered

The literature of Buddhist, Jain and Vedic dispensation of 6^th century BCE mention the existence of 16 mahajanapadas. A majority of them were situated north of the Vindhyas. There was a continuous struggle for supremacy between these mahajanapadas. Out of this struggle, four powerful kingdoms arose - Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha. Eventually, Magadha emerged as the most powerful kingdom.