Gupta Period (319-540 AD )
After the foreign rule of the Bacterians,Scythians, Parthians and Kushanas there rose a strong empire in Magadha. It was the Gupta Empire .They rose to power and their rule lasted for the next 200 years. Their rule saw an all round development in India and hence this is called the "Classical Age" or the "Golden Age" in the Ancient Indian History.
Gupta - the founder of the empire.
- Some person named Gupta was its founder.
- Nothing more important is known about him except that he used the simple title of Maharaja.
- He was the first Gupta ruler who used the title of Maharajadhiraja.
- He was marrried to the Lichhavi queen Kumardevi.
- This matrimonial alliance proved to be beneficiary for him and he occupied a large region of the Gangetic basin.
- He was the greatest ruler of the Gupta empire.
- He is considered Indian Napoleon by the historian VA Smith.
- Much of the detail record about his reign is depicted on the Allahabad pillar inscription and Prayaga Prasasti.
- These inscriptions were depicted by Harisena who was his court poet.
- India had brisk trade with south-eastern Asian countries. Java, Sumatra and Malaya etc. are among these nations.
- He had a strong Naval power of that time.
- He issued different types of golden coins.
- From his coins we come to know that he was a true lover of music.
- Samundragupta was succeeded by some Ramagupta.
- But Ramagupta did not prove to be a genuine ruler to handle the empire efficiently.He was the most coward king of the time and even agreed to surrender his queen Dhruvadevi to the Saka invaders.
- Chandragupta Vikramaditya was younger brother of Ramagupta and he could not tolerate the impotency of his brother before Saka Ruler.
- He visited into the enemy's camp in the guise of the queen and killed the enemy and rescued his brother's wife.
- Later on he managed to kill his impotant brother Ramagupta and married to his wife Dhruvadevi
- He establish matrimonial alliance with Nagas and Vakatakas and extended the limits of his empire
- He defeated the Saka rulers and extended the empire upto Arabian sea.
- He issued silver coins.
- Iron pillar of Mehrauli is attributed to Chandragupta Vikramaditya.
- There were nine gems ( scholars ,scientists,philosophers and mathematicians etc. ) in his court.
- Kalidas was his famous court poet.
- Amarsingh , Dhanavantri and Varahmihira were other famous gems in his court.
- Kumargupta-1 was the successor after Chandragupta Vikramaditya.
- Nomadic clan of Huns threatened his empire during his time but he efficiently faced them.
- Nalanda University was founded by Kumargupta-1 which later on developed as a great centre of learning throughout the world in India.
- He was the last great ruler of the gupta empire.
- His empire during his time was known for the repeatedly attacks by the Huns.
- Huns were tackled every time by Skandagupta but their continuous invasions weakened the empire economically.
- After the death of Skandagupta there was not any other successor strong enough to run the empire efficiently.
Important tips for remembering the books written by Kalidas.
We can remember them by taking the name of - RAM KU MAR
explanation :-
R = RaghuvanshA = AbhigyanshakuntlamM = MeghdootKU = KumarshanbhavMA = MalvikagnimitramR = Ritusamhara
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