Gupta Empire
(Text by Duane R. Hurst © 2013)
Click on a link to view its information and pictures.
|
GUPTA LINKS: Significant Event: Huns Precipitate Gupta Collapse Main Cities: Bharhut; Mathura; Pataliputra Time: 240-554 AD Language: Sanskrit Personage: Samudragupta; Sri Gupta Religion: Buddhism; Hindu Related Country: India Brief History: I have included only a few items concerning the history of this empire. A good source for more details can be found on Wikipedia or in history books. EARLY YEARS: Most historians claim the Guptas came from a Vaish dynasty [Vaishya varna (social rank) of Hindu society]. Sri Gupta (240-280 AD) and his son, Ghatotkacha (280-319 AD), ruled a kingdom in north India that probably was subject to the Kushan Empire. Their kingdom was in territory of the older Magadha Kingdom (1200-321 BC), with its capital at Rajagriha. |
 |
|
GOLDEN ERA OF INDIA:
Gupta rule fostered achievements in a wide area, including mathematics and science. They invented a decimal numeral system and the concept of zero. Intelligencia included: Aryabhata (astronomer and mathematician); Kalidasa (greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist); Vatsyayana (author of Kama Sutra); Vishnu Sharma (author of Panchatantra fables). Samudragupta not only ruled Gupta (335-375 AD), he also was the greatest military commander in Indian history and expanded the empire. His son, Chandragupta II (375-415 AD), brought Gupta to its zenith in size and accomplishments. COLLAPSE: A series of weak rulers allowed Hephthalites (White Huns) to penetrate northwestern defenses circa 480s AD. By 500 AD Toramana and his successor, Mihirakula, overran most of Gupta. In 528 AD, Gupta emperor Narasimhagupta and Yashodharman (king of Malwa) drove out the Huns. The last Guptan king was Vishnugupta (540-550 AD). |
|
|
© Page Publisher: Duane R. Hurst
|
|