Gupta empire:

Administration, Agrarian and revenue system, patterns of urban settlement and trade

PrePre- Gupta period: 200 B.C.to 300 A.D.

 Sungas  Kanvas  Bactrian Greeks  Scythians  Parthian  Kushana  Kharavela  Satavahanas  Cholas  Pandyas  Keralputras  Satiyaputras  Cheras

SILK ROAD

Features of this period

Described as dark period in Indian History. Foreign Dynasties fought with each other for short lived and ephemeral supremacy. Intensive Cultural and Economic contact from outside world. Buddhism enjoyed royal patronage. New cult of Hinduism arose.

 Organization of Empires includes large scale incorporation of local rulers. Best known contribution of this period was to Indian Art. Compilation of the Authoritative Hindu Law Books.

 Around 320 A.D., another great Indian empire emerged. It was known as the Gupta empire.

Gupta Period:
Srigupta. Ghatotkacha Gupta. Chandra Gupta I (320 A.D.-325 A.D.) A.D.Samudra Gupta (325 A.D.-375 A.D.) A.D.Chandra Gupta II (375A.D.-415 A.D.) (375A.D.Kumara Gupta (415 A.D.-454 A.D.) A.D.Skanda Gupta (454 A.D.-467 A.D.) A.D.-

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

Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Silk Road and visited India in the 5c. He was following the path of the Buddha. He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.

Gupta Dynasty

Gupta Administration:
Kingship: Assumption of High sounding titles. Divine nature of Monarchy. Ruler was administrator of Law. Rulers authority was circumscribed by various checks.

Mantriparishad:  Prime Minister.  Council.  Kumaramatyas.

Army Administration:  Commander- in- chief. Commander- in War Office.  War finances.

Taxation System: Land Tax. Merchants, Artisans, Traders, paid taxes. Income from Mint. Booty of War. Tribute from feudatories.

Villages. Vithis. Vishayas. Bhuktis. Center.

Provincial Administration:  Provinces called Bhuktis.  Governors Called Uparika Maharaja.  Council of ministers.

District Administration:  Districts called Vishayas.  Headed by Kumaramatya.  Council.

City Administration:  Had their own Advisory Council.  Consisted of various representatives of different localities.

Town Administration:  Called Vithis.  Administration conducted by members representing landed and military interests.

Village Administration:  Autonomous bodies.  Head of the village Gramika.  Other officials.

During the Gupta empire, Indian mathematicians made great advances. They discovered the concept of zero and the decimal system.

International Trade Routes during the Guptas

Extensive Trade: 4c

spices gold & ivory

Kalidasa

 The greatest of Indian poets.  His most famous play was Shakuntala. Shakuntala.  During the reign of Chandra Gupta II.

Gupta Art

Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.

500 healing plants identified

1000 diseases classified

Printed medicinal guides Plastic Surgery

Gupta Achievement s Kalidasa

Literature

Medicine
Inoculations

C-sections performed

Gupta India

Solar Calendar

Decimal System

Mathematics

Astronomy
The earth is round

Concept of Zero

PI = 3.1416

The Decline of the Guptas

 Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though at first, the Guptas defeated them.  After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.

Gold Coins of Guptas

Gold coins contd. contd.

Gold coins contd.. contd..

Trade routes

Trade routes

Trade Routes

Art and Architecture

Art and architecture contd contd

Art and architecture contd.. contd..

Art and architecture contd. contd.

Art and Architecture contd contd