Learning Objectives

1. Pupil to know the source of history of

the Guptas.
2. Pupil learn about the achievements of
the Gupta rulers.
3. Pupil acquire knowledge about the
social, economic, religious, and
cultural condition of India under the
Guptas.
4. Pupil learn the scientific &
technological development under the
Guptas.
5. Pupil understand why the Gupta
period is called the Golden Age.
 Facts
Capital: Pataliputra
Language: Sanskrit
Religion: Hinduism
Buddhism
Today Part of: India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Myanmar
Period: A.D. 320-A.D. 500s
 How emerged
Around 4th Century,
SriGupta established
a Small kingdom at
Pataliputra. He is
the founder of
Gupta Dynasty.
The Guptas ruled for
about 200 years.
Notable Gupta Rulers
Chandragupta I

Samudragupta

Chandragupta II

These 3 are the most notable

rulers of Gupta Dynasty.
(Do not confuse Chandragupta I with
Chandragupta Maurya, founder of Mauryan
Empire. Both are different persons.)
 Archeological evidence
1. The 18 puranas.
2. Chinese traveler Fa-hien’s notes.
3. Vishakadatta’s Mudra Rakshasa .
4. Kalidasa’s literary works.
5. Bana’s Harsha Charita.
6. The Allahabad pillar inscription of
Samudragupta.
7. Coins.
8. Seals and Monuments.
 Chandragupta I
Chandra Gupta I (A.D. 320 - A.D. 330)
 The first notable ruler
of the Gupta dynasty
was Chandragupta I.
 Called as Maharajadhiraja.
 Married Kumara Devi
 Kumara Devi is the 1st
Indian Queen featured on a coin.
 samudragupta
Samudragupta (A.D. 330 - A.D. 380)
 Defeated:
9 rulers in the North.
12 rulers in the South.
 He came as far as
Kanchipuram.
 Interested in Music and Poetry.
 Because of his vast conquests,
Dr.Smith calls him as Indian
Napoleon.
 Chandragupta ii
Chandgragupta II (A.D. 380 - A.D.
415)
 Son of Samudragupta.
 Called as Vikramaditya.
 Scholars in His Court:
Kalidasa & Amarasimha
 Foreign People Visited:
1. Chinese traveler Fa-Hien
2. Arab merchant Sulaiman
3. Marco Polo
 Social and economic
1. Women of upper class took part in
administration.
2. Women selected their husbands
through Swayamvara.
3. People were rich and generous.
4. People enjoyed high standard of
living.
5. Foreign trade was done with China,
Indonesia, etc.
Extensive Trade

spices

gold & ivory

International Trade Routes
during the Guptas
 Religion and culture
1. Hinduism was the dominant religion
of the state.
2. Sanskrit became the Court language.
3. Vishnu and Shiva were worshipped.
4. Education received importance.
5. Universities like Nalanda, Taxila,
Ujjain, Saranath and Vikramasila
were famous.
 Kalidasa

The greatest of Indian poets.

His most famous play was
Shakuntala.
During rule of Chandra Gupta II.
 Art and Architecture
1. Guptas were very interested in
architecture, sculpture and painting.
2. Build stone temple for Vishnu in
Jhansi.
3. Beautiful image of Buddha were made
at Saranath and Mathura.
4. World famous painting of Ajanta and
Ellora were made.
 Gupta
Art

Greatly influenced
Southeast Asian art &
architecture.
Science and technology
1. Aryabhatta was famous astronomer
during Guptas.
2. Technology of metallurgy was well
developed during Guptas.
3. Nagarjuna discovered many new
medicines.
4. Dhanvantri was very famous Ayur
Veda Physician.
5. Charaka and Susruta were very
popular.
 1000 diseases
classified
Medicine
500 healing
plants identified
science &
Printed
medicinal guides technology
Kalidasa
Plastic
Surgery Medicine Literature

Inoculations
C-sections Gupta Solar
performed
India Calendar

Astronomy
Decimal Mathematics
System
The earth
PI = 3.1416 is round
Concept
of Zero
Fa-hien: life in gupta india
Chinese Buddhist Monk Fa-hien
Traveled along the Silk Road and
visited India during
the time of
Chandragupta II.

He came following

the path of Buddha.

He reported the people

to be happy, free of
government oppression.
 Golden age
 This Period had all-round
developments in Religion, Literature,
Science, Art & Architecture.
 There was economic prosperity all
over the country.
 People lived in peace.
That’s why the Guptan period is
Considered as the Golden Age in the
History of India.
The Decline of the Guptas
 Chandragupta II – Kumaragupta –
Skandagupta
During Skandagupta’s rule, Huns
who came from Central Asia attacked
the Gupta Empire.
After the death of Skandagupta, the
empire began to decline & collapsed.
 Learning outcome
1. Pupil will be able to list the main
sources of history of the Guptas.
2. Able to point out the
achievements of Samudragupta and
Chandragupta II.
3. Able to describe the salient
features of the Gupta Age.
4. Able to explain the Cultural
development under the Guptas.
5. Able to explain why the Gupta
period is considered as the Golden
Age.
 Done By:
r.Malarvizhi