The fortified capital

Most mahājanapada capitals were big, well-fortified cities. Outside the walls ran a moat: a deep, wide ditch filled with water. Two lines of defence: water to cross, then a wall to climb.

The gates in the walls were kept narrow on purpose. That did two jobs:

• an enemy found it harder to force a way in
• guards could check every person and every load of goods coming in or out, and collect taxes

Amazingly, most of these ancient capitals are still living cities, around 2,500 years old: Rājagṛiha is Rajgir, Mathurā is Mathura, Ujjayinī is Ujjain.

In the east, Śhiśhupalgarh (today Sisupalgarh, part of Bhubaneswar, first dug up in 1948) was the capital of Kalinga. It had a strict square plan, huge walls and broad streets. You can still see its narrow gateway and the moat outside, still full of water.

An ancient book, **Kauṭilya's Arthaśhāstra**, lists what a good kingdom needs:

• a fortified capital and fortified towns at the borders
• land that can feed its people, and outsiders in hard times
• farmland, mines, timber, elephant forests and good pastures
• water that doesn't depend only on rain
• good roads and waterways
• a productive economy with many goods

Defence, food, water, roads and trade: what a state is for.