Gupta Empire 320 CE – 647 CE

Gupta Empire 320 CE – 647 CE

Gupta Gupta RulersRulersGupta Gupta RulersRulers

Chandra GuptaChandra Gupta II

r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE

“ “Great King of Kings”Great King of Kings”

Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II

r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE

Profitable trade withProfitable trade with the Mediterranean the Mediterranean world! world!

Hindu revival.Hindu revival.

Huns invade – 450 CEHuns invade – 450 CE

Fa-Hsien: Fa-Hsien: Life in Life in Gupta IndiaGupta India

Fa-Hsien: Fa-Hsien: Life in Life in Gupta IndiaGupta India Chinese Buddhist Chinese Buddhist monk traveled monk traveled along the Silk Road along the Silk Road and visited India in and visited India in the 5c.the 5c.

He was following He was following the path of the the path of the Buddha.Buddha.

He reported the people to be happy, He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.menial labor.

Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111

Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111

International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the

GuptasGuptas

International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the

GuptasGuptas

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

spices

spices

spicesspices

gold & gold &

ivoryivorygold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goods

silkssilks

Gupta Achievemen

ts

Gupta Achievemen

ts

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

Greatly influenced Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & Southeast Asian art &

architecture.architecture.

Medicine

Printed medicinal guidesPrinted medicinal guides

• 1000 diseases classified1000 diseases classified

• 500 healing plants identified500 healing plants identified

Plastic SurgeryPlastic Surgery

C Sections PerformedC Sections Performed

InoculationsInoculations

Mathematics

Decimal System

Concept of Zero

Hindu-Arabic Numeral System

Pi = 3.1416

The beginnings of Algebra

Literature Panchatantra- most famous story book with 87 stories

Many fables and folktales such as the Tale of Sinbad the Sailor were translated and became known in Persia and in Europe

Kalidasa- often compared with Shakespeare

KalidasKalidasaa

KalidasKalidasaa

The greatest of Indian poets.The greatest of Indian poets.

His most famous play was His most famous play was ShakuntalaShakuntala..

During the reign of Chandra Gupta II.During the reign of Chandra Gupta II.

Astronomy Solar Calendar

Calculated the size of the moon and Indian astronomers wrote on gravitation

BhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhari 5c India court poet and 5c India court poet and philosopher.philosopher.Knowledge is man's crowning mark,Knowledge is man's crowning mark,A treasure secretly buried,A treasure secretly buried,The source of luxury, fame, and The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,bliss,A guru most venerable,A guru most venerable,A friend on foreign journeys,A friend on foreign journeys,The pinnacle of divinity.The pinnacle of divinity.Knowledge is valued by kings Knowledge is valued by kings beyond wealth--- beyond wealth---When he lacks it, a man is a brute.When he lacks it, a man is a brute.

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas

Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled the end of the Gupta Golden signaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though at first, the Guptas Age, even though at first, the Guptas defeated them.defeated them.

After the decline of the Gupta empire, After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until the coming of really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.the Muslims in the 7c.

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India was The Taj Mahal in Agra, India was built by Shah Jahan in 1632 for built by Shah Jahan in 1632 for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Mogul Mogul ContributionContribution