Gupta Empire

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Social Studies is an important section for MPTET, REET, and other teaching exams as well. Social studies is the main subject in the REET exam Paper II. In REET Exam, the Social Studies section comprises a total 60 questions of 60 marks, in which 40 questions come from the content section i.e. History, Geography and Political Science and the rest 20 questions from Social Studies Pedagogy section.

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At least 12-15 questions are asked from the History section in the REET Social studies section. Here we are providing important facts related to the Gupta Empire.

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Gupta Period (319 AD – 540 AD)

In 4th Century AD a new dynasty, the Guptas, arose in Magadha and established a large kingdom over the greater part of Northern India (though their empire was not as large as that of the Mauryas). Their rule lasted for more than 200 years.
This period is referred as the ‘Classical Age’ or ‘Golden Age’ of ancient India and was perhaps the most prosperous era in the Indian history.
According to epigraphic evidence, the founder of the dynasty was a person named Gupta. He used the simple title of Maharaja.
Gupta was succeeded by his son Ghatotkach, who also inherited the title of Maharaja.

Chandragupta I : 319 – 334 AD

He was the first Gupta ruler to assume the title of Maharajadhiraja.
He strengthened his kingdom by matrimonial alliance with the powerful family of Lichchhavis who were the rulers of Mithila. His marriage to Lichchhvi princess Kumaradevi, brought to himenormous power, resources and prestige. He took advantage of the situation andoccupied the whole of fertile Gangetic Valley.
He started the Gupta Era in 319 – 20 AD.
Chandragupta I was able to establish his authority over Magadha, Prayaga and Saketa.
Original type of Gold Coins (Dinaras) : ChandraguptaI – Kumaradevi type.

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Samudragupta : 335 – 380 AD

Samudragupta was the greatest king of Gupta dynasty.
The most detailed and authentic record of his reign ispreserved in the Prayaga Prasasti/Allahabad pillar inscription, composed by his court poet
Samudragupta’s military campaigns justify description of him as the ‘Indian Napoleon’ by V.A. Smith.
When he died his mighty empire bordered that of the Kushan of Western province (modern Afghanistan and Pakistan) and Vakatakas in Deccan (modern Southern Maharashtra).
His greatest achievement was the political unification of most of India or Aryavarta into a formidable power.
Titles : Kavirajae. king of poets (Prayaga Prasasti), Param Bhagavat (Nalanda copperplate), Ashvamedha parakrama i.e. whose might was demonstrated by the horse – sacrifice (coin), Vikram i.e. prowess (coin), Sarva – raj – ochchetta i.e. uprooter of all kings (coin) etc. Note : Only Gupta ruler had the title of Sarva – raj – ochehhetta.
Original types of Gold Coins (Dinars) : Garud type, Dhanurdhari i.e. Archer type, Axe type, Ashvamedha type, Vyaghrahanan i.e. Tiger killing type, Veenavadan i.e. lute playing type.
According to the Chinese writer Wang – Hiuen – Tse, Meghavarna, king of Sri Lanka, sent an embassy to Samudragupta for his permission to build a monastery for Buddhist pilgrims at Bodh Gaya.

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Chandragupta II ‘Vikramaditya’ : 380 – 414 AD

According to ‘Devi Chandragupta’ (Vishakhadatta), Samudragupta was succeeded by Ramgupta. It seems Ramgupta ruled for a very short period. He was ‘the only Gupta ruler to issue copper coins’.
Ramagupta, a coward and impotent king, agreed to surrender his queen Dhruvadevi to Saka invader. But the prince Chandragupta II, the younger brother of the king, resolved to go to the enemy’s camp in the guise of the queen with a view to kill the hated enemy. Chandragupta II succeeded in killing the Saka ruler.
Chandragupta II also succeeded in killing Ramgupta, and not only seized his kingdom but also married his widow Dhruvadevi.
Chandragupta II extended the limits of empire by matrimonial alliances (with the Nagas and Vakatakas) and conquests (Western India). He married Kubernaga of Naga dynasty and married his daughter Prabhavatigupta with Vakataka prince Rudrasena II.
As a result of the overthrow of Saka rule in Western India, the Gupta empire extended upto Arabian sea. He issued silver coins in the memory of victory over Sakas. He was ‘the first Gupta ruler to issue silver coins’ and adopted the titles Sakari and Vikramaditya. Ujjain seems to have been made the second capital by Chandragupta II.
Mehrauli (near KutubMinar, Delhi) Iron Pillar inscription says that the king defeated the confederacy of Vangas and Vahilkas (Bulkh).

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Navaratna of Chandragupta II

Kalidasa (Poetry – Ritusamhar, Meghadutam, Kumarsambhavam, Raghuvamshama; Dramas Malvikagnimitra, Vikramorvashiyam, AbhijnanShakuntalam)
Amarsinh (Amarsinhkosha).
Dhanavantri (Navanitakam – medicine text)
Varahmihira (PanchSidhantaka, Vrihatsamhita, VrihatJataka, Laghu Jataka)
Araruchi (Vartika – a comment on Ashtadhyayi)
Ghatakarna
Kshapranak
Velabhatt
Shanku.

Fahien, a Chinese pilgrim, visited India during Chandragupta’s reign and described what he saw in his travelogue ‘fo – gu – oji’

Original types of Gold coins (Dinaras): Ashvarohi type, Chhatradhari type, Chakra – Vikram type etc.

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Kumaragupta I: 415 – 455 AD

Chandragupta II was succeeded by his son Kumaragupta I.
Towards the end of his reign, the Gupta empire wasthreatened from the North by the Huns, who were temporarily checked by his son Skandagupta.
He founded the Nalanda Mahavihara which developed into a great centre of learning.
Titles: Mahendraditya, MahendraSinh and Ashvamedha Mahendrah (coins) etc.
Original types of Gold Coins (Dinars): Khadgadhari type, Gajarohi type, GajarohiSinh – nihanta type, Khangnihanta i.e. rhinoceros – slayer type, Kartikeya type, Apratigh – mudra type etc.

Skandagupta: 455 – 467 AD

Skandagupta, the last great ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
During his reign the Gupta empire was invaded by the He succeeded in defeating the Huns. Success in repelling the Huns seems to have been celebrated by the assumption of the title ‘Vikramaditya’ (Bhitari Pillar Inscription).
The decline of the empire began soon after his death.
Titles: Vikramaditya and Kramaditya (coins), Param Bhagavat (coins), Sharkropama (Kahaum Pillar Inscription), Devaraja (Arya Manjushri MulaKalpa) etc.