What was a key difference between a monarchical Mahajanapada and a 'gana' or 'sangha' type of state in ancient India?
Options
Monarchical states had multiple rulers, while ganas had one
Ganas were ruled by a group of rulers, monarchical states by one king
Monarchical states had no army, ganas had a strong army
Ganas only existed in the south, monarchical states in the north
Explanation
In monarchical Mahajanapadas, a single king held supreme power and made all significant decisions. Conversely, 'ganas' or 'sanghas' were states governed by a group of rulers, often drawn from powerful aristocratic families. These multiple rulers convened to discuss and collectively decide on state matters, distinguishing them as a more republican or oligarchic system from the centralized authority of monarchies.