The Gupta Dynasty (320 - 550 AD)

The Gupta period is known as the classical Age or Golden Age in the history of ancient India.
Pataliputra was the capital of the Guptas.
Chandragupta I(320-355 AD) is considered as the real founder of Gupta dynasty.
Samudradupta (355-376 AD)-He is rightly called ‘Indian Nalpolean’ by Vincent A.Smith as he led campaign against the principalities and kingdom of North India.
His court poet was Harisena.
The Allahabad Pillar Inscriptions or Pralyaga Prasasti written by Harisena gives details of the conquests of Samudragupta.
Chandragupta II (376-415AD) is also known as Vikramadhitya.
Nine Gems or ‘Navaratnas’ belonged to the court of Vikramadhitya.
Fa-hien (AD 399-414), the Chinese pilgrim visited India, during the reign of Vikramaditya.

Skandagupta

The last powerful Gupta monarch.
Vishnu Gupta was the last ruler. This period is compared to ‘Periclean Age of Greece’.

Contributions of the Gupta

The Gupta period saw tremendous growth in literature, art, architecture, painting, science and technology.
During the Gupta period Sanskrit language and literature had reached a level o;f classical excellence.
The Panchathantra (a collection of fables) and Kamasutra by Valsyayan,(the standard Indian text on sexual love) belonged to the Gupta period.
In this period knowledge of metals improved tremendously. Eg. 230 foot-high iron pillar built at Delhi.
The decimal system introduced by the Indians in the 5th century.
Aryabatta the first astronomer, who calculated ‘pie’ to 3.1416 and the length of solar year to 365.3586505 days.
Aryabatta wrote Suryasiddanta, which dealt with epi-cyclic revolution of earth, nature of eclipse, reckoning of time est,
He postulated that the earth was sphere rotating on its axis and revolving around the sun as well.
He propounded the Helicentric theory of gravitation, ths predating Copernicus by almost one thousand years.
During the Gupta period the six systems of Hindu philosophy originated.

1. Vaiseshika Darsana-Uluka Kannada.

2. Nyaya Darsana-Akshapada Gautama.

3. Sankhya Darsana-Kapila Maharshi

4. Yoga Darshana-Pathanjali

5. Mimamsa Darsana-Jaimine.

6. Vedanta Darsana-Badarayana.

VARDHANA DYNASTY

Vardhana dlynasty is also known as Pushyabhuti dynasty.
Prabhakara Vardhana was the first king of this dynasty with his capital at Thaneswar.
Harsha Vardhana was the second son of Prabakara and the most important ruler of Varshana dynasty(606-647).
His original name was Siladitya.
Harshacharita(anaccount of Harsha’s rise to power) by Bhanabatta, one of the court poet by Harshavardhana.
Harsha’s dramas such as Ratnavali,Nagananda and Priyadarsika give us information about the political conditions in those days.
Hieun Tsang, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim (otherwise known as Prince of Pilgrims), visited India during the reign of Harsha (630 AD). He wrote Si-Yi-Ki.
The Nalanda University (founded by Kumara Gupta) became famous during this period.
Harsha’s Deccan and South Indian expeditions were stopped by PulikeshinII, the Chalukya king of Badani or Vatapi, Pulikeshi defeated Harsha in the battle of Narmada.
The Aihole Inscription written by Ravikirti, the court poet of PulikesinII (609-642).
Harsha was the last great Hindu emperor in India and died in 647 AD.
After him the Karkotas of Kashmir established their power.

PALAS

Gopala was the founder of Pala dynasty.
Pataliputra was its capital.
Famous Odandapuri University was founded by Gopala.
Dharmapala and Devapala were the famous rulers.
The Vikramashila University was founded by Dharmapala.
He also revived Nalalanda University,which hasd been famous all over the eastern world.

PRATIHARAS

The dyndasties was founded by Nagabhata I.
He made Kanouj his capital.
Bhoja was the greatest ruler of this dynasty.
He adopted the title ‘Adivaraha’.
He was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted the title of ‘Adivraha’. He is sometimes called Mihis Bhoja to distinguish him from Bhoja Parmara of Ujjain.
Yashpal was the last ruler of his dynasty.
Dandidurga was founder of this dynasty.
Malkhed near modern Sholapur was its capital.
Famous rock cut Kailashanath temple and Elephanta caves wre built during the period of king Krishna I.
Amoghavarsha II was the famous ruler of this dynasty.
Krishna III was the last ruler of this dynasty.