TOPIC INFO (CUET PG)
TOPIC INFO – CUET PG (History)
SUB-TOPIC INFO – Ancient Indian History
CONTENT TYPE – Short Notes
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. Origin of Gupta Empire
2. Historical Sources
2.1. Literary Sources
2.2. Fa-Hien’s Account
2.3. Inscriptions and Official Records
2.4. Numismatic Evidence
3. Rulers of the Gupta Dynasty
3.1. Sri Gupta
3.2. Ghatotkacha Gupta (AD 280-319)
3.3. Chandragupta I (AD 319-335)
3.4. Samudragupta (AD 335-380)
3.5. Chandragupta II AD 380 to 412
3.6. Navratnas of Chandragupta II
3.7. Kumaragupta I (AD 415-455)
3.8. Skandagupta (AD 455-467)
3.9. Successors of Skandagupta
3.10. Titles Adopted by Gupta Kings
4. Gupta Administration
4.1. Central Administration Features
4.2. Important Officials at the Central Level
4.3. Provincial and Local Administration
4.4. City Administration
4.5. Judiciary
4.6. Army
4.7. Gupta Economy
4.8. Guilds Class
4.9. Taxes Levied During the Guptas
4.10. Mining and Metallurgy
4.11. Trade and Commerce
4.12. Major Industries
4.13. Agriculture
4.14. Irrigation
4.15. Types of Land
4.16. Coinage System
4.17. Coins Issued by Gupta Kings
5. Gupta Society
5.1. Position of Women
5.2. Religious Life
6. Art and Culture During the Gupta Period
6.1. Temple Architecture
6.2. Five Types of Architecture
6.3. Discovery of Sankh Lipi
6.4. Sculpture Art Form
6.5. Painting
6.6. Famous Temples of the Gupta Age
7. Literature during the Gupta Period
8. Science and Technology During the Gupta Period
8.1. Physics
8.2. Chemistry
8.3. Mathematics
8.4. Astronomy
8.5. Medicine
9. Decline of the Gupta Empire
9.1. Frequent invasions by the Huns
9.2. The emergence of Feudal Lords
9.3. Economic Decline
9.4. Weak Successors
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Guptas
CUET PG History
The Gupta age witnessed the political unification of India after a long period of more than 500 years after the decline of the Mauryans. The Gupta Age is called the golden age of India because the civilization during this age reached the top.
- In the third century AD, the Kushanas in North India and the Satavahanas in the Deccan experienced a decline, leading to a period of political disintegration in India. However, this period also saw the rise of various smaller powers and new ruling families.
- Among these, the Guptas played a significant role in establishing an empire. Following the Mauryas, the Guptas achieved the political unification of North India and extended their influence over much of the Indian subcontinent.
Origin of Gupta Empire
- The origins of the Gupta kings are unclear, and several theories have been proposed. Puranas mention the early Gupta kings’ territory in the Ganges basin, specifically in Prayaga, Saketa, and Magadha areas.
- The Guptas are thought to have been feudatories of the Kushanas, but their dynasty’s varna or social class is not mentioned.
| Some historians, like AS Altekar, suggest that they might have been of Vaishya origin, traditionally associated with trade. It is theorized that they may have become rulers after resisting oppressive taxation by previous rulers. |
- However, the suffix Gupta is found in the names of several non-Vaishyas before and during the Gupta period, adding complexity to their social origins.