UPSC History The Gupta Empire Short Notes - The Gupta Empire (AD 320-467)

The Gupta Empire (AD 320-467)

• Founder - Sri Gupta
• Nalanda University was built by Kumargupt.
• The great Mathematician Aryabhata lived during this age. He discovered the number "0" and value of Pi. He wrote "Aryabhatiya" and "Suryasiddhanta".
• Kalidas the great poet also belonged to this period.
• The great Physician Dhanvantari was also born in this era.
• During this age Sanskrit language and literature were at its peak Poets Kalidasa, Dandi, Visakhadatta, Shudraka, and Bharavi — all belonged to the Gupta Age.
• Chandragupta (320-33S AD) was the son of Ghatotkacha and grandson of Sri Gupta.
• He married to Kumaradevi, the Lichhavi princess of the rich ruling family in Magadha which helped the Gupta Empire to become a powerful empire.
• Sumudragupta [AD   335-375] Harisena described him as the "Hero of a Hundred Battles."
• He was the greatest ruler of Gupta dynasty. He is called "Indian Napoleon",
• Prayag Prashasti   [Written   by Harisen) is the main source of information on his reign.
• Samundragupta was succeeded by his son Chandragupta Vikramaditya [or 11].
• Chandragupta II   married   his daughter Prabhavati with a Vakataka prince who belonged to the Brahmana caste and ruled in central India.
• His court had Navaratna (Nine Jewels). Kalidasa was one of the jewels among this Navaratna.
• He conquered western Malwa and Gujarat, which had been under, the rule of the Saka Kshatrapas for about four centuries by that time.

Nine Gems in the Court of Chandragupta-II

• Kumaragupta (AD 415-455) is the son of Chandragupta II.
• Kumaragupta's dominion suffered severely from the invasion of Huna Hordes, all over North India.
• Skandagupta is the son of Kumaragupta.
• He defeated the Pushyamitra who had become powerful during the period of Kumaragupta. He also defeated the White Hunas:

Ruler of Gupta Dynasty

            Srigupta l                270 AD-290 AD

            Ghatotkacha           290 AD-319 AD

            Chandragupta I       319 AD-335 AD

            Samudragupta        335 AD-375 AD

            Chandragupta II      375 AD-414 AD

            Kumaragupta I      415 AD- 455 AD

            Skandagupta        455 AD-467 AD

• Tamralipti, a port in Bengal was an important trade centre during Gupta period.
• The most   important   officers in the Gupta empire were the kumaramatyas.
• The empire was divided into divisions: bhuktis (under the charge of an uparika) and vishayas (Districts) under the charge of vishyapati.
• Gupta Period is also known as the 'Golden Age of Ancient India'.

Important Literary works during the Gupta period

The Post Gupta Period (550 AD - 647 AD)

NORTHERN INDIA

Pushyabhuti dynasty: Pushyabhuti (Founder)

• The Pushyabhuti dynasty came in Dower in Thaneswar (Karnal in Haryana) in the beginning of the 6^th century AD.
• The first important king of this dynasty \vas Prabhakaravardhan (580-605AD).
• The Maukhari king Grahavarman assassinated Rajyavardhan's brother-in-law and imprisoned his sister Rajashree with the help of Devagupta of Malava and Shashanka of Gauda.
• Rajyavardhan inflicted a crushing defeat on Devagupta and was killed by Shashank of Gauda.
• Harshavardhana (AD 606-647) was the last Hindu king of North India.
• Harsha himself wrote the Ratnavali, Naganandam and Priyadarshika plays in Sanskrit.
• His court poet Banabhatta wrote his biography, the Harsha Charita.
• Harsha united the two kingdoms of Thaneswar and Kannauj and transferred his capital from Thaneswar to Kannauj.