Fill in the blank with the appropriate option given below : In the ancient period, each city had a history of its own, _ began as a village but in fifth century B.C.E the Magadhan rulers shifted their capital from Rajagaha to this settlement.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate option given below : In the ancient period, each city had a history of its own, _ began as a village but in fifth century B.C.E the Magadhan rulers shifted their capital from Rajagaha to this settlement.
Options
The correct option is (D) Patliputra.
Why: In the 5th century BCE, the Magadhan rulers shifted their capital from Rajagaha (Rajgir) to Pataliputra (modern Patna), which grew from a village into the greatest political and commercial centre of ancient India and remained the Mauryan capital.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for selecting option (D) Patliputra.
- 2No partial marks for MCQ.
Hint
The city at the Ganga–Son confluence that replaced Rajgir is modern Patna.
Quick Oral Answer
The Magadhan rulers shifted their capital from Rajagaha to Pataliputra, modern Patna, in the fifth century BCE — so the blank is filled by option D, Patliputra.
Analysis & Explanation
This is a source-based recall question on the changing capitals of Magadha, a key theme in the growth of early states.
Why (D) is correct: Rajagaha (Rajgir), the earlier fortified capital, was replaced by Pataliputra at the confluence of the Ganga and Son rivers. Its riverine location made it a strategic hub for trade, communication and defence, and it became the capital of the Nandas, Mauryas and later dynasties.
Why the other options are wrong:
- (A) Vidisha — an important town in central India (Madhya Pradesh) but never the Magadhan capital.
- (B) Taxila — a famous centre of learning and trade in the north-west (Gandhara), unconnected to the Magadhan capital shift.
- (C) Ujjain — the capital of the Avanti mahajanapada in western India, not of Magadha.
Exam trap: All four are famous ancient cities, so students must remember the specific Rajagaha-to-Pataliputra move associated with Magadha, not merely pick any prominent city.
Common Mistakes
- 1Choosing Ujjain, which was the Avanti capital, not the Magadhan one.
- 2Selecting Taxila by associating it wrongly with political capitals rather than learning centres.
- 3Not linking the specific move from Rajagaha (Rajgir) to Pataliputra with Magadha.
Interesting Facts
The Greek ambassador Megasthenes, in his work Indica, described Pataliputra (Palibothra) as a vast city protected by a timber palisade with 570 towers and 64 gates.
Pataliputra stood at the confluence of the Ganga and Son rivers, a natural fortress location that helped it dominate trade along the Gangetic plains.
The city served as the capital of the Nanda, Mauryan, Shunga and later Gupta empires, an unbroken run of political importance lasting nearly a thousand years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Magadhan rulers shift their capital to Pataliputra?
Pataliputra's location at the confluence of the Ganga and Son rivers gave it natural defences and control over river trade and communication across the Gangetic plains. This strategic advantage made it a far superior capital to the earlier hill-fort city of Rajagaha (Rajgir).
Which dynasties used Pataliputra as their capital?
Pataliputra served as the capital of the Nandas, the Mauryas (including Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka), the Shungas and later the Guptas. Its long run as an imperial capital made it the most important political centre of ancient northern India.