Post on 13-Jan-2016
The Gupta EmpireBy Grant Dachroeden
Location and time Around 320 CE to 600 CE Northern India, from Pakistan to
Bangladesh
http://poster.4teachers.org/view/poster.php?poster_id=209401
Government Monarchy Empire Divided in to provinces, ran by
viceroys, normally a member of the royal family
Provinces were then divided in to districts ran by a city counsel,
Government continued city councils could make governing
decisions, only if it didn’t involve a central policy
Justice system King presided over the highest court Various councils, authorized to resolve
disputes, as in village assembly or trade guild
Judgments usually based off of legal texts social customs or orders of the king
Diplomacy Kingdoms in Nepal and Assem paid tribute
for peace Gave tribal states autonomy, under their
protection Forced other kingdoms to pay them tribute
Roads Roads were built to further trade routes Roads were also built connecting major
cities in case of invasion
Trade Traded with mostly with Rome Traded textiles, metals, gems, and ivory Sea trade routes also developed
Currency Design for Coins seem to be propaganda Images of the perfect human form Making kings seem legendary or like gods
http://www.indianetzone.com/2/coins_gupta_dynasty.htm
Citys Cities had many guilds for crafts Cities like Nalanda had universities that
many people traveled to go to Many cities were laid out around temples
Cities continued Cities were laid out for streets big enough
for trading stalls
Peasant Communities Peasants formed communities with almost
no one of higher castes The village leader had the responsibility
with dealing with the landlords These communities were run by village
elders and leader
Rent and Tribute Most of the money generated was from
taxes on land There was also a heavy tax on produce off
of the land Absence of a heavy toll on traffic and trade
Tributes Feudal kings had to pay tribute Neighboring lands paid tributes to keep
peace Often forced other kingdoms too
Patriarchy Women were treated more like property Women could not own any property Women were often married before they hit
puberty
Collapse of the empire Multiple invasions by the Hephthalites,
draining the economy Disarray of the royal family Governors and feudal chieftains revolting
against the Guptas
Works cited "Gupta Empire - Goverment." Think Quest. Oracle. Web. 7
Sept. 2011. <http://library.thinkquest.org/C006203/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?article=government§ion=history/guptas&frame=parent>
"Coins of the Gupta Dynasty." Free Encyclopedia & Web Portal on Indian Culture & Lifestyle. Indianet Zone. Web. 07 Sept. 2011. <http://www.indianetzone.com/2/coins_gupta_dynast y.htm> Smitha,
Frank E. "The Gupta Dynasty and Empire." MacroHistory : World History. Web. 07 Sept. 2011. <http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch28gup.htm>
Lockard, Craig A. "Societies, Networks, and Transitions ..." Google Books. Cengage. Web. 08 Sept. 2011.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=yJPlCpzOY_QC>.