GUPTA EMPIRE (320 - 540 AD)

➡Gupta Empire was founded by Sri Gupta.
 ➡Ghatotkacha was the second ruler.
 ➡Chandra Gupta I was the real founder of the Gupta Empire. He came to the throne in 320 AD.
 ➡He was the first ruler to adopt the title Maharajadhiraja.
➡ He laid the foundation of Gupta Era on 26 February 320 AD.
➡Samudra Gupta succeeded Chandragupta I in 335 AD.
 ➡The Allahabad Pillar inscription composed by Harisena contains information about Samudragupta’s conquests.
➡ Allahabad Pillar inscription is also known as ‘Prayagaprasasti’.
➡ Samudra Gupta is also known as ‘Linchchavi Dauhitra’’. (son of the daughter Kumaradevi of Lichchavis)
 ➡Samudra Gupta is described as ‘Indian Napoleon’ by V.A. Smith.
➡Samudra Gupta composed ‘‘Vahukabita’’ and had the title ‘‘Kaviraja’’.
➡Sanskrit was the court language of the Guptas.
➡ India became ‘‘Greater India’’ under Samudra Gupta.
 ➡Samudra Gupta was an accomplished Veena player.
➡Chandragupta II the greatest of Gupta rulers was popularly known as Vikramaditya
➡He adopted the title ‘Sakari’ after his victory over Rudradaman II of Gujarat.
➡Fa hein, the Chinese traveller, visited India during his period.
➡The exploits of Chandragupta II are glorified in an iron pillar inscription fixed near Qutub Minar.
➡Chandragupta II adopted the title Vikramaditya as a mark of his victory over the Sakakshatraps.
➡Nine gems’ or ‘Navratnas’ was a famous Scholastic Assembly in the court of Chandragupta II.
➡The members in the Ninegems were - Kalidasa, Kadakarbhara, Kshapanaka, Varahmihira, Vararuchi, Vethalabhatta, Dhanvantari, Ammarasimha, Sanku.

➡Chandragupta II was succeeded by his son Kumaragupta I.
➡Skandagupta Vikramaditya was the last great ruler of Gupta Empire.
➡Skandagupta Vikramaditya was the only hero in Asia and Europe who defeated the Hunas in their glorious period.
 ➡Vishnu Gupta was the last ruler who died in 570 AD.
 ➡Mantriparishad assisted the king in administration.
 ➡Most important Industry of the Gupta period was textile.
➡Period of the Gupta is compared to ‘Periclean Age of Greece’, ‘Augustan Age of Rome’ and ‘Elzabethan Age of England’.

➡Period of the Guptas is considered as the Golden Age in the history of India.
➡Earlier Guptas had their capital at Prayag in Allahabad, later it was shifted to Ujjain by Chandragupta II.
 ➡The most important officers in the Gupta empire were Kumaramatyas.
 ➡The royal seal of the Guptas bore the emblem of Garuda.
➡Aryabhatta was the first to treat Mathematics as a separate subject. He wrote Aryabhattiyam. He belonged to the Gupta period. Aryabhatta was the first to use Decimal System.

➡Panchsidhanta, Brihat Jataka, Laghu Jataka and Brihat Samhita are the works of Varahamihira.
➡ The best specimen of the Gupta paintings are seen at Ajanta caves and the Bhaga caves.
➡The Gupta period marked the beginning of Indian temple architecture.
➡Guptas issued large number of gold coins in India.
➡Guptas largely patronised art and architecture.
➡ Guptas patronised the Gandhara school of art, Madhura School of Art and the Andhra School of Art.
➡The Fresco paintings in the Ajanta caves are examples of the art of the Guptas.
 ➡The chief source of income was land revenue.
➡The position of women declined during the Gupta period.
➡A renowned physician of the Gupta period was Vaghbhatta
➡Nalanda and Taxila were the two universities of this period.
➡Kalidasa is generally called ‘‘Indian Shakespeare’ and the ‘Prince of Indian Poets’.
➡ Patanjali founded ‘Yoga Shastra’, a school of Hindu philosophy during this period.