Gupta Empire (400 – 600 AD)

• On ruins of Kushan Empire rose Gupta Empire
• Constituted majority of UP & Bihar
• Main center of power at Prayag (Allahabad)
• Founder of Gupta Dynasty was Sri- Gupta
• Srigupta was succeeded by Ghatochkacha
• Both of them were called Maharaja

Chandragupta 1

• 1^st to be called as Maharajadhiraja (Great king of kings)
• Married Lichchhavi princess which gave him strength & prestige.
• Considered to be founder of Gupta era as a mark of his ascension.
• Mehraulli iron pillar inscriptions mentions his extensive quests.

Samundragupta

• Known as greatest ruler of Gupta dynasty & Napolean of India
• Was opposite of Asoka & delighted in military conquest.
• Inscriptions of his military conquest are mentioned (in Sanskrit with Nagari script) on same Allahabad pillar which carries inscriptions of peace-loving Asoka.
• Samundragupta never knew any defeat & conquered east till Assam, west till eastern Afghanistan, North till Kashmir & south till Tamilnadu
• Was a lover of art & literature, Self-proficient in music & poetry, hence called Kaviraja
• Patronised many poets & scholars along with famous Harisena
• Was an ardent follower of Vaishnavism but tolerant to other religions

Chandragupta 2 (Chandragupta Vikramaditya)

• His reign saw high watermark of Gupta Empire
• Extended his empire by military conquests & marriage alliances
• Defeated Shakas in Malwa & Gujrat & conquered western seaport, henceforth, Ujjain became 2^nd capital of Guptas, 1^st being Prayag
• His exploits as Chandra has been mentioned on Qutub iron pillar Delhi.
• His reign at Ujjain court saw numerous scholars including “Kalidasa & Amarsimha”
• It was his reign under which Chinese pilgrimage Fa-hsien / Fahien (399-414 AD) visited India.

Fall of Gupta Empire

• Due to invasion of Hunas from central Asia
• Due to rise of Yashodharman in Malwa
• Due to dissention within the royal family & weak rulers
• The later Gupta’s embraced Buddhism while their predecessors were staunch Hindus.

Gupta’s Administration

• Unlike Mauryas, Guptas assumed titles like Parmeshwara, Maharajadhiraja & Paramabhattaraka
• Provinces in Gupta’s period were known as Bhuktis & provincial governors Uparikas
• King maintained close contacts with provincial administration through a class of officials called “Kumaramatyas” & “Ayuktas”
• Provinces were divided into districts Vishayas under charge of Vishayapati
• All foreign affairs were looked after by foreign affair minister known as “Sandivigraha”
• Villagers were subjected to forced labour called Vishti for serving royal army & officials

Religion & Social Culture

• Brahamans formed the top ladder & receive numerous gifts
• Brahamanism reigned supreme during Gupta period & had 2 branches mainly, Vaishnavism & Shaivism, with former more prevalent (Bhagavatism)
• Fahien accounts shows a decline of Buddhism in Gangetic valley but a few budhhist monks like Vasubandhu were patronised by Gupta kings

Art & Culture

• Gupta age is called golden age of India in field of art, science & literature.
• Nagara & Dravidian styles of art evolved during this period
• Delhi iron pillar, 7 ½ feet Buddha statue & Deogarh temple are finest example of Gupta art
• Mural paintings of Ajanta, which mainly depicted life stories of Buddha as in Jataka stories belong to this period (Paintings at Sigiria in Srilanka are influenced by Ajanta paintings)

Literature

• Sanskrit became primary language in Gupta period
• Ramayana & Mahabharata were compiled during this period

Science & Technology

Great Medical Trio of Ancient India → Charaka, Susruta & Vagbhata