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Gupta Empire | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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c. 319 CE–c. 550 CE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Map of the Gupta Empire c. 420 CE, according to Joseph E. Schwartzberg, with contemporary polities[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Empire | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital | Pataliputra Ujjain Ayodhya[2][3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common languages | Sanskrit (literary and academic); Prakrit (vernacular) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Religion | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Maharajadhiraja | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. Early 3rd century CE | Gupta (first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. 280-319 CE | Ghatotkacha | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. 319-335 CE | Chandragupta I | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. 335-375 CE | Samudragupta | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. 375-415 CE | Chandragupta II | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. 415-455 CE | Kumaragupta I | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. 455-467 CE | Skandagupta | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• c. 540-550 CE | Vishnugupta (last) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Historical era | Ancient India | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• Established | c. 319 CE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | c. 550 CE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Area | |||||||||||||||||||||||
400 est.[4] (high-end estimate of peak area) | 3,500,000 km2 (1,400,000 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
440 est.[5] (low-end estimate of peak area) | 1,700,000 km2 (660,000 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Currency | Dinars, Cowries | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Today part of |
This article does not have any sources. (October 2023) |
The Gupta Empire was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 AD and covered most of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The time of the Gupta Empire is reffered to as Golden Age of science, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy in South Asia. The kings of this dynasty favour Hinduism.
The Guptas most probably came from Bengal. At the beginning of the 4th century the Guptas ruled a few small Hindu kingdoms in Magadha and around modern-day Uttar Pradesh.
We get plenty of information about this dynasty through coins, inscriptions, monuments, and Sanskrit writings. The Gupta rulers were great conquerors and good administrators. This brought on a series of invasions that weakened the empire, but many of their cultural and intellectual achievements were saved and transmitted to other cultures and live on today. Fa Hien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II and stayed in this country for several years.
People lived a simple life. Commodities were affordable and all round prosperity ensured that their requirements were met easily. They preferred vegetarianism and shunned alcoholic beverages. Gold and silver coins were issued in great numbers which is a general indicative of the health of the economy. Trade and commerce flourished both within the country and outside. Silk, cotton, spices, medicine, priceless gemstones, pearl, precious metal and steel were exported by sea.
During the reign of either the emperor Kumāragupta or, more probably , that of his successor Skandagupta ( AD 455–467 ), the capital of the empire was moved from Pāțaliputra to Ayodhyā...