The founder of the Gupta dynasty was Sri

Gupta. He was succeeded by Ghatotkacha.

He married Licchavi princess Kumaradevi,

Chandragupta I (320 – 330 AD) which strengthened his position.

The Meherauli Iron Pillar inscription

mentions his extensive conquests.
Chandragupta I is considered to be the
founder of the Gupta era which starts with
his accession in A.D. 320.

Samudragupta was the greatest of the

rulers of the Gupta dynasty.

Gupta administration was highly Samudragupta’s military campaigns justify

decentralised. description of him as the ‘ Indian
Napolean’.
It comprised a network of self-governing
tribes and tributary kingdoms and their Samudragupta performed the asvamedha
chiefs often served as representatives of sacrifice. He issued gold and silver coins
imperial powers. with the legend ‘restorer of the
asvamedha’.
A high official called Sandivigraha who Samudragupta (330-380 AD)
was minister for foreign affairs. His greatest achievements was the
political unification of most of India.
Provincial administration was looked after
by officials called Kumaramatyas and Samudragupta was a ardent follower of
Ayuktas. Vaishnavism.

Nagara Sreshtis were the officers looking He was called Kaviaraja because of his
after the city administration. ability to compose verses and promoted
sanskrit literature.
The practice of appointing the crown Administration
prince (Kumara) came in vogue. He was a Veena player and issued coins '
King playing Veena'.
Bhukti (Province) - Uparika/Bhogapati
Samudragupta was succeeded by his son
Vishya (District) - Vishyapati/Ayukta Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.
Administrate Units & Head
Vithika/Nagar(City) - Nagarapati/Purapala Chandragupta II inherited the military
genius of his father and extended the
Gram(Village) - Gramika Gupta Empire by his own conquests.

The villagers were subjected to forced Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription says that
labour called vishti. the king defeated the confederacy of
Vangas and Vahilkas.
Fahien describes Gupta administration as
Rulers
mild and benevolent. Fahien visited India during his reign.

On the whole the administration was He patronised Navaratna poets and

more liberal than that of the Mauryas. scholars, one among them is Kalidasa.

He earned the title Sakari meaning '

Chadragupta II (380- 414 AD) Destroyer of Sakas' by ending western
During the Gupta period, the caste system
became rigid. Saka rule.

The practice of untouchability had slowly As a result of dethroning Sakas the

begun during this period. western boundary of the Empire reached
to the Arabian Sea gaining access to
Broach, Sopara, Cambay and other sea
The position of women deteriorated
ports.
further. Polygamy was common,
patriarchy took deep roots.
This enabled the Gupta empire to control
Women were prohibited from studying trade with the western countries.
the religious texts like the Puranas.
The western traders poured Roman gold
The practice of Swayamvara was given up into India in return for Indian products.
and the Manusmriti suggested the early
marriage for girls. The great wealth of the Gupta Empire
manifest in the variety of gold coins issued
The first example of Sati appears in Gupta by Chandragupta II.
time in 510 AD in Eran inscription in
Madhya Pradesh.
Society Chandragupta II was succeeded by his son
Kumaragupta I
In the sphere of religion, Brahmanism Gupta Age
reigned supreme during the Gupta period. He laid the foundation for the Nalanda
It had two branches - Vaishnavism and Kumaragupta I (415- 455 AD) University.
Saivism.
A branch of the Huns from Central Asia
The worship of images and celebration of made attempts to invade India during his
religious festivals with elaborate rituals reign.
made these two religions popular.
Last ruler of Gupta dynasty
Religious literature like the Puranas was
composed during this period. During his reign the Gupta empire was
invaded by the Huns. He succeeded in
The progress of Brahmanism led to the defeating the Huns.
neglect of Buddhism and Jainism.
Skandagupta (455- 467 AD) The continuous attacks of the Huns
In western and southern India Jainism weakened the empire and adversely
flourished. affected its economy. The gold coinage of
Skandagupta bears testimony to this.

Nitisara, written by Kamandaka, is a text The decline of empire began soon after his
like Arthasastra. It emphasises the death.
importance of the royal treasury and
mentions various sources of revenue.
The main purpose of his visit was to see
Agriculture flourished in the Gupta period the land of the Buddha and to collect
due to establishment of irrigation works. Buddhist manuscripts from India.

Kshetra - Cultivatable land Fahien provides valuable information on

Fahien’s Visit the religious, social and economic
Khila - Waste land condition of the Gupta empire.
During the Gupta period, the land was
Aprahata - Jungle or waste land According to him, Buddhism was in a
classified as
flourishing condition in the northwestern
Vasti - Habitable land India but , he refers to the Gangetic valley
as the ‘land of Brahmanism’.
Gapata Saraha - Pastoral land

Guptas issued good number of silver coins

for local exchange.

Bhaga - King’s customary share of the

produce normally amounting to 1/6th of
the produce, paid by cultivators. Economy

Bhoga - Periodic supplies of fruits, fire

wood, flowers etc., which the villagers had
to furnish to king.

Bali - Originally it was a voluntary offering Taxes

by the people to the king, but later it
became compulsory. During the Gupta
period, it seems to be an additional and
oppressive tax.

Uparikara - An extra tax levied on all

subjects.

Gupta period witnessed decline in long

distance trade.

Trade with Roman Empire declined after

3rd century AD.

Indian merchants began to rely more

heavily on the South-East Asian trade.