History

Chirand, located on the northern bank of the River Ganges in Saran district, has archaeological evidence dating back to the Neolithic Age (about 4500–2345 BCE) and the Copper Age (2345–1726 BCE).

Mithila rose to prominence when the Indo-Aryan people established the Videha Kingdom. During the late Vedic period (c. 1600–1100 BCE), Videha became a major political and cultural center in South Asia, alongside the Kuru and Panchala kingdoms. The kings of Videha were known as Janakas. King Siradhwaja Janaka of Mithila had a daughter named Sita, who is described as the wife of Lord Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana, written by Valmiki. Later, the Videha Kingdom became part of the Vajji confederacy, which had its capital in the city of Vajji, also located in Mithila. Vajji had a republican system of governance where the king was elected from among the rulers. According to texts related to Jainism and Buddhism, Vajji was established as a republic in the 6th century BCE, before the birth of Gautama Buddha in 563 BCE, making it the first known republic in the world. Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of Jainism, was born in Vaishali.

Magadha, in the region of present-day western Bihar, was a significant center of power, education, and culture in India for 1000 years. During the Rigvedic period, it was ruled by the Brihadratha dynasty. The Haryanka dynasty, founded in 684 BCE, ruled Magadha from the city of Rajagriha (modern Rajgir). Notable kings of this dynasty include Bimbisara and his son Ajatashatru, who imprisoned his father to seize the throne. Ajatashatru founded the city of Pataliputra, which later became the capital of Magadha. The Haryanka dynasty was succeeded by the Shishunaga dynasty, and later the Nanda dynasty ruled over an extensive empire stretching from Bengal to Punjab.

The Nanda dynasty was eventually overthrown by the Mauryan Empire, India’s first major empire. The Mauryan Empire and Buddhism thrived in the region that is now modern Bihar. The Mauryan Empire, which emerged from Magadha in 325 BCE, was founded by Chandragupta Maurya, who was born in Magadha. Its capital was Pataliputra (modern Patna). The Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who was born in Pataliputra (Patna), is considered one of the greatest rulers in history. The Mauryan Empire was the largest empire India has ever known, extending from Iran in the west to Burma in the east, and from Central Asia in the north to Sri Lanka in the south. Chandragupta Maurya’s significant achievements include defeating a Greek satrap and conquering parts of Afghanistan. His most notable victory was over the Greek king Seleucus Nicator of West Asia, resulting in a treaty and marriage to Seleucus’ daughter Helen, keeping the Greeks out of India permanently. His Prime Minister, Acharya Chanakya, wrote the Arthashastra and was his mentor and advisor. Chandragupta’s son Bindusara further expanded the empire to the south. Emperor Ashoka, known as Devanampriya Priyadarshi, is famed for his inscriptions on pillars, mountains, and stones throughout his empire, written in Brahmi, Greek, and Aramaic. After Ashoka’s death, his sons divided the empire into East and West Maurya kingdoms. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha, was killed by his Brahmin commander Pushyamitra Shunga, who then established his rule over Magadha.

The Gupta Empire, which arose in Magadha in 240 AD, is often referred to as the golden age of India in terms of science, mathematics, astronomy, commerce, religion, and Indian philosophy. Samudragupta expanded this empire throughout South Asia. His son, Chandragupta Vikramaditya, defeated all foreign invaders and drove them out of India, earning the title of Sakari. Among the notable Gupta kings, Skandagupta is remembered for repelling the Huns and protecting India from external threats. During this period, the Gupta Empire was the largest and most powerful empire in the world, extending from Persia or Baghdad in the west to Burma in the east, and from Central Asia in the north to Kanchipuram in the south. Its capital was Pataliputra (present-day Patna). The influence of this empire extended globally, reaching from Rome and Greece to Arabia and Southeast Asia.

Buddhism in Magadha declined significantly following the invasion of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji, which led to the destruction of Bihar’s renowned universities, Nalanda and Vikramashila. It is said that thousands of Buddhist monks were killed during the 12th century. Historian D.N. Jha, however, suggests that these events were more likely the result of clashes between Buddhists and Brahmins vying for dominance.

In 1540, Sher Shah Suri of Sasaram, a prominent Pashtun chieftain, defeated the Mughal army led by Humayun and seized control of northern India from the Mughals. Sher Shah made Delhi his capital. From the 11th century to the 20th century, Mithila was governed by various indigenous dynasties, starting with the Karnat dynasty, followed by the Anwar dynasty, the Raghuvanshis, and finally the Raj Darbhanga. During this era, the capital of Mithila was moved to Darbhanga.

Babu Kunwar Singh of Bihar was a key figure in the First War of Independence in 1857. Bihar became a separate state following the partition of Bengal in 1905, and in 1936, Orissa was carved out of it. During India’s freedom struggle, the Champaran rebellion in Bihar was a pivotal event that fueled resistance against British rule. Post-independence, Bihar was further divided, leading to the creation of the state of Jharkhand on November 15, 2000. Additionally, Bihar played a significant role in the Quit India Movement.