Ancient & Medieval History of Bihar

🟢 Pre-Mauryan Period

• Bihar derives from Vihara (Buddhist monastery)
• Home to ancient Mahajanapadas:
  🔸 Magadha (Capital: Rajagriha → Pataliputra)
  🔸 Anga (Capital: Champa, Bhagalpur)
  🔸 Vajji/Vrijji Confederacy (Capital: Vaishali) → First republic

📝 PYQ (BPSC): Which Mahajanapada had a republican system? → Vajji

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🟢 Mauryan Period (321–185 BCE)

• Chandragupta Maurya founded Maurya Empire from Magadha
• Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)
• Ashoka the Great: After Kalinga War, adopted Buddhism
• Sites:
  🔸 Barabar Caves (Jehanabad) – Ashokan donation
  🔸 Lauriya-Nandangarh – Ashokan pillars
  🔸 Didarganj Yakshi – Mauryan sculpture

📝 PYQ (BPSC): Where are Barabar caves located? → Jehanabad, Bihar

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🟢 Gupta Period (319–550 CE)

• Known as the Golden Age of India
• Bihar remained core region – Pataliputra was a key centre
• Chandragupta I: Married Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi (Vaishali)
• Aryabhata: Born in Kusumpura (Patna), wrote Aryabhatiya
• Early development of Nalanda University under Gupta patronage

📝 PYQ (DPSC): Aryabhata was born in which city? → Kusumpura (Patna)

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🟢 Pala Period (8th–12th Century CE)

• Dharampala founded Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur
• Bihar became a Buddhist learning hub
• Universities:
  🔸 Nalanda (Gupta era, revived under Palas)
  🔸 Vikramshila (Tantric Buddhism focus)

📝 PYQ (BPSC): Who established Vikramshila University? → Dharampala

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🏰 MEDIEVAL BIHAR

🟢 Sher Shah Suri (Sur Dynasty)

• Born as Farid Khan in Sasaram, Bihar
• Defeated Humayun, ruled from Delhi (1540–1555 CE)
• Reforms:
  🔸 Introduced Rupiya
  🔸 Built Grand Trunk Road
  🔸 Developed postal system, sarais
• His mausoleum is in Sasaram (Indo-Afghan style)

📝 PYQ (BPSC): Where is Sher Shah’s tomb located? → Sasaram

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🟢 Bihar under Mughal Rule

• Babur annexed Bihar after Battle of Ghaghra (1529)
• Under Akbar, it was part of Bengal Subah
• Cities like Patna became centres of opium and textile trade
• Important governors: Raja Todar Mal (revenue reforms)

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🟢 Bhakti Movement in Bihar

• Saints like Kabir, Malan Baba, and Vidyapati (Maithili poet)
• Preached in vernacular against casteism
• Vidyapati: Popular in Mithila court, wrote Krishna-Radha poetry

📝 PYQ (BPSC): Vidyapati wrote in which language? → Maithili

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🟢 Sufi Movement in Bihar

• Chishti Sufi saints like Makhdoom Yahya Maneri (Bihar Sharif)
• Promoted love, equality, and communal harmony
• Bihar Sharif’s Badi Dargah is his shrine
• Son: Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri

📝 PYQ (DPSC): Badi Dargah in Bihar Sharif is associated with? → Makhdoom Yahya Maneri

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📌 Quick Revision Points

• Mahajanapadas in Bihar: Magadha, Anga, Vajji
• Mauryas & Guptas: Ruled from Pataliputra
• Aryabhata: Born in Kusumpura, Bihar
• Universities: Nalanda (Gupta) & Vikramshila (Pala)
• Sher Shah Suri: Born in Sasaram, built GT Road, introduced Rupiya
• Bhakti-Sufi saints: Vidyapati, Kabir, Makhdoom Yahya Maneri

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📚 Sources Used

• NCERT Class 6–12 – History
• Lucent GK – Ancient & Medieval History
• Drishti Bihar Special Book
• Ghatna Chakra PYQ Digest
• EduTeria BPSC GS Compilations