The Rise and Growth of The Gupta Empire: Background

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The Rise and Growth of the Gupta Empire
Background
After the fall of the Mauryan empire, the Kushans in the North and Satavahanas
in the south had held power. Gupta empire replaced the Kushans in the North with
its centre of power at Prayag and gave political unity for more than a century
(335AD-455AD). It was founded by Sri Gupta. Gupta strength laid in the use
of horses and material advantage of fertile land and natural resources abundant
region.
1. Chandragupta I (319-334 AD)

• He was the first great ruler of the Gupta Dynasty. He assumed the
title Maharajadhiraja. Married Licchhavi princess
• Started the Gupta Era by 319-20 AD
• The original type of Gold coins Dinaras was issued.
2. Samudragupta (335-380 AD)
• He followed a policy of violence and conquest which led to the
enlargement of the Gupta empire
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•Harisena, his court poet, vividly mentions his military exploits in

Allahabad inscriptions
• He reached Kanchi in the south which was ruled by Pallavas
• Meghavarman, the ruler of Srilanka, sent a missionary for permission
to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya
• Samudragupta is called as Napoleon of India
3. Chandragupta II (380-412 AD)
• He adopted the title Vikramaditya
• He conquered Malwa and Gujarat which provided him access to the
sea which enabled trade and commerce. Ujjain was made as the
second capital
• His court was adorned by the Navaratnas including Kalidasa and
Amarasimha.
• His exploits are glorified in Iron Pillar at Qutub Minar
• Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hsien (399-414AD) visited India during his
period.
Life in the Gupta Age
1. System of Administration
• They adopted Pompous titles such as Paeamabhattaraka and
Maharajadhiraja.
• The administration was highly decentralized with feudal lords ruling
over minor provinces
• Civil and criminal laws were highly demarcated
• Kumaramatyas were the most important officers. But Guptas lacked
elaborate bureaucracy like Mauryas. These offices also became
hereditary in nature.
• Grant of fiscal and administrative concessions to priests was also in
practice. Agrahara grants and Devagraha grants were practised.
2. Trends in trade and agrarian economy
• Guptas issued a large number of Gold coins which were called as
Dinars
• There was a decline in the long-distance trade with Romans which
led to lesser gold content in the Dinars.
• Land grants made to the priests brought many virgin lands under
cultivation
3. Social developments
• Brahmana supremacy continued during the Gupta period
• The Huns came to be recognized as one of the 36 clans of the Rajputs
• The position of Shudras improved as they were permitted to hear
Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas
• The number of untouchables, the Chandalas, increased
• The position of women improved as they were permitted to hear
Ramayana, Mahabharata and worship Krishna. But the first example
of Sati also appears in the Gupta period.
4. State of Buddhism
• Buddhism did not receive royal patronage in the Gupta Period, still,
stupas and Viharas were constructed and Nalanda became a centre
for Buddhist learning
5. Origin and growth of Bhagavatism
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• Worship of Vishnu and Narayana merged to form Bhagavatism or

Vaishnavism
• It was marked by Bhakti (loving devotion) and Ahimsa
• Religious teachings were mentioned in Bhagavadgita, Vishnu Purana
and Vishnu Smriti
• Idol worship became a common feature of Hinduism
• Gupta rulers followed a principle of tolerance
6. Art
• Gupta period is called the Golden age of ancient India. Art was mostly
inspired by Religions.
• Rock cut caves – Ajanta, Ellora and Bagh caves
• Structural temples – Dashavatar temple of Deogarh, Laxman temple of
Sirpur, Vishnu temple and Varah temple of Eran. The growth of Nagara style
also enabled the development of temple architecture in India
• Stupas – Dhammek stupa of Sarnath, Ratnagiri stupa of Orissa, Mirpur
Khas in Sindh developed in this period.
• Paintings – Ajanta paintings and Bagh caves paintings
• Sculpture – the Bronze image of Buddha near Sultanganj, Sarnath and
Mathura school flourished during this period which supports the growth of
Mahayana Buddhism and Idol worship.
• Images of Vishnu, Shiva and some other Hindu gods were also found.
1. Literature
• Religious
Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vayu Purana etc were re-written. Dignaga
and Buddhagosha were certain Buddhist literature written in this
period
• Secular
a. Mudrarakshasha by Vishakadatta
b. Malavikagnimitra, Vikramorvashiyam,
AbhijanaShakuntalam – Dramas by Kalidasa
c. Ritusamhar, Megadoot, Raghuvamsam,
Kumarasambhavam – Poetries by Kalidasa
d. Mricchakatika by Sudraka
e. Kamasutra by Vatsyayana
f. Panchatantra by Vishnu Sharma
• Scientific
a. Aryabhatiya and Surya Siddhanta by Aryabhatta
b. Romaka Siddhanta
c. Mahabhaskarya and Laghubhaskarya by Bhaskara
d. Pancha Siddhanta, Vrihat Jataka, Vrihat Samhita
by Vrahamihira
Fall of the empire
1. Huns invasion during the reign of Skandagupta and his successors greatly
weakened his empire
2. Rule of Yashodharman dealt a severe blow to the Gupta empire.
3. The rise of feudatories and Governors becoming independent led to the
disintegration of the Gupta empire. Loss of western India had crippled them
economically.
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The Rise and Growth of The Gupta Empire: Background

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The Rise and Growth of The Gupta Empire: Background

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www.gradeup.

The Rise and Growth of the Gupta Empire

1. Chandragupta I (319-334 AD)

•Harisena, his court poet, vividly mentions his military exploits in

Life in the Gupta Age

• Worship of Vishnu and Narayana merged to form Bhagavatism or

Fall of the empire

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