In addition to the major states, there were dozens of smaller regions comprised of various tribes organized as oligarchies, each under a single ruling family. The Shakya tribe, of which Siddhartha Gautama was a prince, was one of these oligarchies. It was located in the area called Kapilavastu, at the foot of the Himalayas in northeast India.
Wars of the Ganges Valley. Control of the Ganges Valley became a major issue between the northern Indian states during the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. Wars were continually fought over the rights to the lucrative trade route, especially between the states of Kashi, Kosala, Magadha, and Vrjji. The state of Magadha established dominance in the region by the mid-400s, but infighting continued between tribes and states into the next century. The nation of India was not unified until the establishment of the Mauryan Empire in 325 B.C.
Evolution and philosophy of Buddhism. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in roughly 500 B.c. Known as Buddha, meaning the "Illustrious One" or "Enlightened One," Siddhartha promoted concepts of peace and passive behavior in the face of aggression. His teachings maintained that love is stronger than force; through peaceful co-existence and patience, good can conquer evil just as a stream can erode the most formidable mountain over time.
