GuptaEmpire
Golden Age of India

Gupta Empire: AD 320 – 500Gupta Empire: AD 320 – 500

Gupta RulersGupta Rulers
 Chandra GuptaChandra Gupta II
 AD 320 – 340AD 320 – 340
 First king of GuptaFirst king of Gupta
empireempire

SamudraguptaSamudragupta
 AD 340 – 380AD 340 – 380
 Expantion of kingdom takes placeExpantion of kingdom takes place
 Defeated shakes rulersDefeated shakes rulers
 Chandra Gupta II (Vikramadittya)Chandra Gupta II (Vikramadittya)
 AD 380 - 415AD 380 - 415
 Profitable trade withProfitable trade with
the Mediterraneanthe Mediterranean
world!world!
 Huns invade – defeated by guptaHuns invade – defeated by gupta
kingskings

Chandra Gupta 2 (Vikramadittya)Chandra Gupta 2 (Vikramadittya)

Chandragupta and Kumardevi
are shown,
Chandragupta is offering a ring
(or putting Sindur) to his queen
Kumardevi.
Chandra in Brahmi script is
written below left arm of King
while Shri-Kumardevi is written
near right hand of queen
Reverse of coin shows goddess
Laxmi, Appears on all coins
minted by gupta kinga.
Coins in Gupta empire
Coine minted by Chandragupta :

Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaFa-Hsien: Life in Gupta India
 Chinese Buddhist monk traveledChinese Buddhist monk traveled
along the Silk Road and visitedalong the Silk Road and visited
India in the 5c.India in the 5c.
 He reported the people toHe reported the people to
be happy, relatively free ofbe happy, relatively free of
government oppression, andgovernment oppression, and
inclined towards courtesy andinclined towards courtesy and
charity.charity.

International Trade Routes duringInternational Trade Routes during
the Guptasthe Guptas

Extensive Trade:4cExtensive Trade:4c
spices
spices
spicesspices
gold & ivory
gold & ivory gold & ivorygold & ivory
rice & wheat
rice & wheathorseshorses
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goodssilks
silks

KalidasaKalidasa
 The greatest of Indian poets.The greatest of Indian poets.
 His most famous play wasHis most famous play was ShakuntalaShakuntala..
 During the reign ofDuring the reign of VikramadittyaVikramadittya..

GuptaGupta
ArtArt
Greatly influencedGreatly influenced
Southeast Asian art & architecture.Southeast Asian art & architecture.

MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature
MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematics
AstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy
PrintedPrinted
medicinal guidesmedicinal guides
1000 diseases1000 diseases
classifiedclassified
PlasticPlastic
SurgerySurgery
C-sectionsC-sections
performedperformed
InoculationsInoculations
500 healing500 healing
plants identifiedplants identified
DecimalDecimal
SystemSystem
ConceptConcept
of Zeroof Zero
PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416
KalidasaKalidasa
SolarSolar
CalendarCalendar
The earthThe earth
is roundis round
GuptaGupta
IndiaIndia
GuptaGupta
AchievementsAchievements

The Decline of the GuptasThe Decline of the Guptas
 Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaledInvasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled
the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even thoughthe end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though
at first, the Guptas defeated them.at first, the Guptas defeated them.
 After the decline of the Gupta empire, northAfter the decline of the Gupta empire, north
India broke into a number of separate HinduIndia broke into a number of separate Hindu
kingdoms and was not really unified again untilkingdoms and was not really unified again until
the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.

Why Gupta Empire is considered as a
Golden age of India ?
Because –
 Westeren invaders were defeated – Shaka &
Hun
 Establishment of kingdom from east to west cost
of India
 Prosperity & wealth in society is due to the good
governance of Gupta kings
 Share of Indian trade in world was more than 20
%, now it is less than 0.1%
 Kalidas, Panini, Bhas, Varahamihir were the
leaders in various fields presented their classic
work to the world