Page 77 - SST Class 06
P. 77
Political Developments
(AD 300 TO 700) 12
q Gupta empire q Later Gupta rulers
q The Gupta Age : the golden age q Decline of the Gupta period
q Harshavardhana
Introduction of Chandragupta I, the Gupta empire rose to
The Satavahanas and Kushanas were the two major prominence.
political powers after the Mauryan empire. These Chandragupta I (320-335 AD)
two empires declined in the 3rd century AD. After
the fall of these two empires the Guptas laid the The Gupta dynasty came to power when Sri
Gupta was the king; however, it came to
foundation of an empire in the 4th century AD. It
prominence with the coronation of Chandragupta
was the second most powerful empire of ancient
India after the decline of the Mauryan empire. The I. When he ascended the throne, his rule was
confined to Magadha. He extended his empire
Gupta dynasty ruled for over two hundred years
using matrimonial alliances and conquests. He
from 320 AD to circa 540 AD. India made progress married Kumaradevi , a princess of the Laichchavis
during this period in all aspects of life so this period
tribe. This tribe helped him to expand his empire
is called the Golden Age .
to the neighbouring territories.
Soon, his empire expanded and
GUPTA EMPIRE
included the areas of Uttar
The history of this period has been largely Pradesh, Bihar, Trihut and
reconstructed on basis inscriptions, coins and Oudh. It is not certain how his
archaeological remains. The paintings at Ajanta empire expanded. There are no
and brick temples in Deogarh, Kanpur and Jhansi records to show this. A coin during the rule
by the Gupta rulers tell us about the life during the Samudragupta (335-376 AD) of Chandragupta I
Gupta Age. City remains found in Patliputra and
the Prayag Prashasti or pillar inscriptions at Chandragupta I was succeeded by his son
Prayagraj gave us a right insight into the reign of Samudragupta. He was one of the ablest kings that
Samudragupta. India has ever had. Not much was known about
the rule of Samudragupta until the Allahabad
There was a spurt in Sanskrit literature. The most
Pillar was found in the Allahabad Fort. On this
famous work of poet Kalidasa such as pillar is inscribed a thirty-three line poem, in
Raghuvansham Meghadoota and
Sanskrit, written by Harisena. This poem gives a
Abhijnanashakuntalam were written in this period.
vivid account of Samudragupta’s
Accounts of foreign travellers like Fa-Xian, conquests and military exploits.
Xuanzang, Alberuni etc. also provide us with rich
This is the reason that it is said
information of the Gupta period.
about Harisena, “Upon his single
The Gupta dynasty was founded by Srigupta. He record rests the name and fame
was succeeded by Ghatotkacha. During the reign of the real founder of the Gupta A coin during
empire .” Samudragupta’s rule
Political Developments (AD 300 TO 700)
77
