3.1.9 Gupta age notes

1. 3.1.9.1Rise of the Guptas and Samudragupta: the Allahabad pillar inscription

   The Guptas rose in the Ganga plains from about the early fourth century CE, and Samudragupta turned a regional kingdom into an empire, as his court poet Harishena recorded on the Allahabad pillar.

   Standard · 7 min · Full course
2. 3.1.9.2Chandragupta II: Saka conquest, the Navaratnas and Fa-Hien

   Chandragupta II (c. 375 to c. 415 CE) defeated the Shakas of western India, made Ujjain a second capital, and ruled when the Chinese monk Fa-Hien visited and the "nine jewels" tradition places the best Sanskrit writers at his court.

   Standard · 6 min · Full course
3. 3.1.9.3Later Guptas: Kumaragupta, Skandagupta and the Huns

   Kumaragupta I kept the empire stable for about forty years, Skandagupta held back the Huns, and weaker successors then lost territory until the dynasty faded by the mid-sixth century.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
4. 3.1.9.4Gupta administration and land grants

   Gupta rule was less centralised than Mauryan rule: the king was supreme, but provinces, districts and villages were run by officers who often held office by heredity, and land grants to Brahmanas and temples created local power.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
5. 3.1.9.5Gupta society, economy and religion

   Gupta society saw sharper caste rules and a lower status for women and "untouchables", the economy turned more rural, Puranic Hinduism took shape, and Sanskrit literature and science flourished.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
6. 3.1.9.6Vakatakas: the Gupta alliance and Ajanta

   The Vakatakas ruled the Deccan from the third to the sixth century CE, allied with the Guptas through the marriage of Prabhavati Gupta, and their last great king's minister gave Ajanta some of its finest caves.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course

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