Classical Age of India-The Guptas
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The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from the
early 4th century CE to late 6th century CE. At its zenith, from approximately
319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period is
considered as the Golden Age of India by historians.
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At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of
the Indian subcontinent. The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by
the king Sri Gupta; the rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta
I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Skandagupta. The 5th-century
CE Sanskrit poet Kalidas a credits the Guptas with having conquered about
twenty-one kingdoms, both in and outside India, including the kingdoms
of Parasikas, the Hunas, the Kambojas, tribes located in the west and
east Oxus valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others.
Chandra Gupta 1(320 AD-335 AD)
Chandra Gupta I, king of India (reigned 320 to
330 ce) and founder of the Gupta empire. He
was the grandson of Sri Gupta, the first known
ruler of the Gupta line. Chandragupta I was a
king of the Gupta Empire, He ruled in northern
and central India. His title Maharajadhiraja
suggests that he was the first emperor of the
dynasty. He was married to Princess Kumara.He
died in 335 AD.
Samundra Gupta (335 AD-375 AD)
Samudragupta was the second emperor of the
Gupta Empire of ancient India, and is regarded
among the greatest rulers of the dynasty. As a
son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and
the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, he greatly
expanded his dynasty's political and military
power.He called himself the “The Exteminator
of kings” and also promoted Hinduism.He died
in 375 AD.
Chandra Gupta 2 (375 AD-415 AD)
Chandragupta II, also known by his title
Vikramaditya, as well as Chandragupta
Vikramaditya, was the third ruler of the Gupta
Empire in India, and was one of the most
powerful emperors of the Gupta dynasty.
Chandragupta continued the expansionist
policy of his father Samudragupta, mainly
through military conquest. He died in 415 AD.
Kumara Gupta (415 AD-455 AD)
Kumaragupta I was an emperor of the Gupta
Empire of Ancient India. A son of the Gupta
emperor Chandragupta II and queen
Dhruvadevi, he seems to have maintained
control of his inherited territory, which
extended from Gujarat in the west to Bengal
region in the east. He died in 455 AD
Skanda Gupta (455 AD-475)
Skandagupta was a Gupta Emperor of India.
His Bhitari pillar inscription suggests that he
restored the Gupta power by defeating his
enemies, who may have been rebels or foreign
invaders. He repulsed an invasion by the IndoHephthalites, probably the Kidarites. He failed
to the cosistent atacks if Huns and comletly
lost control.He died in 475 AD.
Who were Kaldas?
The greatest of all poets was Kalidasa, who
lived in the fifth century AD in the court of
Chandragupta II. His works are well-known,
having been translated into a variety of
European languages. Meghaduta,
Abhijnanashakuntalam, Raghuvamsha,
Kumarasambhava, and Ritusamhara are some
of his works.
Religion
During the Gupta empire—from about 320 to 550 CE—
emperors used Hinduism as a unifying religion and helped
popularize it by promoting educational systems that
included Hindu teachings; they also gave land to
brahmins. The Gupta emperors helped make Hinduism
the most popular religion on the Indian subcontinent.
The Gupta emperors were followers of Hinduism but they
never persecuted those who followed Buddhism and
Jainism. They respected Buddhism and Jainism and
employed learned scholars from these two religions. The
Gupta rulers were patrons of Brahmanism. They
worshipped Lord Vishnu and other Hindu gods.
Art and Architecture
On the concept of Gupta age
architecture, it includes
both sculptural temples as well as
the temples of rock-cut caves.
Guptas established the temples of
Buddhist rock-cut at Bagh, Madhya
Pradesh, and Ajanta, Maharashtra.
In the Gupta period, the Guptas
established Hindu structural temples
for the first time in India. Main style
of temple architecture in Gupta
period is Nagara style.
Language and Literature
Gupta Kings patronized the Sanskrit literature. They generously
helped Sanskrit scholars and poets. Eventually Sanskrit language
became the language of cultured and educated people. The
Ramayana and Mahabharata were finalised during the Gupta
period. Puranas, smritis and dharmashastra literature developed
during the gupta period. This is when the Yajnavalkyasmriti was
written, which is almost considered the Guptas' official legal
book.
Achievements in Mathematics and Science
1.Achievment in Astronomy
Aryabhata was a famous astronomer and methamatician.He correctly explained that Earth is a
sphere and that it rotates on its axis. He also explained how eclipse occurred.
2.Methamethical Inventions
Aryabhata also wrote a book in 499 AD covering mathematical topics of arithmetic,trignometry
And geometry
3.Advance in Medicine
Indians were skilled in medicine. Indian doctor wrote Ayurvedic medical books, explaining
different disease and how to make medicine from animal, plants and mineral
4.Development in Metallurgy
Indians progressed in the feid of metallurgy which is the science of metal to create different
objects. The famous Iron pillar near Delhi was created during the Gupta
How did Gupta Empire end?
The Gupta empire ended with the invasion of the White Huns, a nomadic
tribe of people from central Asia, at the end of the fifth century CE. Until
the sixteenth century, there was no unifying empire; regional political
kingdoms ruled India.
How did Gupta Empire end?
The Gupta empire ended with the invasion
of the White Huns, a nomadic tribe of
people from central Asia, at the end of the
fifth century CE. Until the sixteenth
century, there was no unifying empire;
regional political kingdoms ruled India.