Question

How many Mahajanapadas were there in the 6th century B.C.?

Hint:

Buddhist texts list this figure as the 'Solah Mahajanapadas.'

Answer 1

Step 1: Identify the source of the number: The number 16 comes from early Buddhist canonical lists naming the major janapadas of the period, not from a single archaeological count.

Step 2: State the figure: This is why textbooks consistently cite 'sixteen Mahajanapadas' for 6th century BCE India.

Final Answer: Sixteen (16) Mahajanapadas.