Period of Mahajanapadas

Answer: The evaluation of role of iron in second urbanisation appears to be a controversial issue. According to one view the wide agrarian surplus prepared the basis for second urbanisation. Initially it was supposed that, this agrarian surplus and the control over it was linked to the control over irrigation projects under a hydraulic state, but later this agrarian surplus started to be linked to the use of iron implements in the field of agriculture. According to this view, in 6th century BC onwards, agriculture expanded in middle Gangetic basin. With the use of iron implements clearing of forests and expansion in cultivation became easier. Some agrarian implements like sickles, hoes, axes etc. were to be associated with this period: Then from the later stage of Jakhera we have unearthed even an iron ploughshare. As we know with the use of iron implements, there was extension in agriable land in-middle

Gangetic basin. Furthermore rice producing middle Gangetic basin was more productive than wheat producing upper Gangetic basin. Apart from that the plantation of paddy started during this period and for the first time slaves and workers' got associated with cultivation. It resulted into surplus agrarian production. Then this surplus production encouraged the growth in population. For example in Gangetic basin, the total-no. of OCP sites was 110 but total no. of PGW sites increased to 750. Likewise NBPW sites reached upto 1500. On the other hand surplus production in the field of agriculture encouraged the development of crafts. In Buddhist text, different types of crafts have been mentioned. The development in crafts resulted into specialisation of crafts. Furthermore now a group of craftsmen associated with-ii particular craft just started to settle in a particular region. For example at a particular place of Vaishali, 500 potters got settled during this period trade and commerce was encouraged: Surplus production in the field of agriculture resulted into money: economy and development of craft as well. For, example, punch marked coins which were the earliest regular coins came into, existence first time during, this period. According to Buddhist texts there were 60 towns in Northern India during this. period. Among them, 20 towns were as big as Sravasti and among them 6 towns were given the status of Metropolitan city. In .this way, the emergence of second urbanisation was linked to the effective use of iron implements in-the field of agriculture.