GUPTA EMPIREBecky Koshner

Location and Time

Classical India had 32 empires, Gupta was the 7th

319 c.e. – 535 c.e. Present day:

IndiaPakistanNepalBangladedshMyanmar

Administrative Institutions Regionalism Kings claimed to be appointed by the

gods- Hindu belief No extensive bureaucracy

defeated local leaders ruled as long as they respected/obeyed Gupta dominance

Personal representative at all courts to ensure loyalty

Administrative Institutions Cont. Uniform law codes: General services-

road building, etc. No signal language- Sanskrit Buddhism- ethic of good behavior,

politics not important Caste system replaced the government

Military Power

Chandra Gupta II: Peace through diplomacy (in empire) and marriage alliancesMarried off children to important leaders

Cavalry, archeries, war elephants, navy, 3 ½ million soldiers

Steel bows, shields, javelins, bows

Military Power Cont.

Trade

India and Mediterranean Land trade

Caravan routes- ‘silk roads’Middleman between east and westTrading stations along route

ItemsCotton, silk, dyes, drugs, ivory, pottery, wine,

metals, some slaves, GOLD, ideas, beliefs, etc.

Role of Cities

TradeTrading stations, a place to rest

Political PowerStatesLocal leadersDeveloped independently from othersLocal units- villages, families

Social hierarchy Caste System

Empire States (5) Castes (300+) Jati Subgroups Stayed in caste- strict social behavior. Tolerance Avoided outright slavery

Courts King- highest courts Various councils

Warriors and

Governors (Varnas)

Priestly Class (Brahmans)

Traders and Farmers (Vaisyas)

Common laborers and unskilled workers (Sudras)

Untouchables (Pariah)

Patriarchy Woman had little rights

Can’t own or inherit propertyCan’t participate in key ritualsMarried very youngSome required to burn themselves upon

husband’s death. Better organized agriculture & improved technology

reduced women economic contributions male dominance

Strong willed female goddess, stories celebrate woman’s beauty, etc.

Achievements Art

Gold coins Math

Concept of zeroDecimal systemPi

ScienceSolar year, Earth is round, placement of planetsPlastic surgery, Inoculations GravityIron- 35ft pole

Collapse

Central Asian nomads (the White Huns) began to invade the Gupta Empire.

The empire’s treasury had already been drained by the military. Unable to defend their empire, it fell to the invaders.

The empire once again was divided into small, regional kingdoms

Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gupta_Empire http://www.ancientmilitary.com/ancient-india-military.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaXWsodnyyg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5upeOZHzSyw http://www.ancientmilitary.com/ancient-india-military.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/C006203/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?ar

ticle=government&section=history/guptas&frame=parent

http://www.killeenroos.com/AP/Classical%20Civilizations.pdf

http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/105589/Chapter-3-Classical-India

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090913210647AARK5DA

Bibliography Cont. http://www.google.com/imgres?

q=gupta+empire+world+civilizations&hl=en&sa=X&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=DWRsq6fq2EAfZM:&imgrefurl=http://curriculum.kcdistancelearning.com/courses/WHISTx-HS-A08/a/unit3/html/section_5_page_20.html&docid=xRIu3oNhFey_M&w=600&h=429&ei=LxFtTtXkNOL50gHv89GcCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=136&vpy=229&dur=1266&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=211&ty=119&page=1&tbnh=124&tbnw=173&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&biw=1020&bih=564

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=gupta+empire+war+elephants&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=1gYC1shqm5iGIM:&imgrefurl=http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D366788&docid=jXrQCIsIS-uckM&w=600&h=455&ei=6iBtToLxAuLh0QGVsKGcBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=199&vpy=225&dur=3454&hovh=195&hovw=258&tx=128&ty=127&page=1&tbnh=114&tbnw=142&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&biw=1020&bih=564

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=gupta+empire+swords&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=LwHAg9bgz4X35M:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ferrous_metallurgy&docid=1DEd2dbzZ_Z57M&w=150&h=273&ei=MSNtTv2UGsXs0gHxu8nvBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=817&vpy=42&dur=2719&hovh=218&hovw=120&tx=102&ty=141&page=2&tbnh=129&tbnw=78&start=15&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:15&biw=1020&bih=564

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=gupta+empire+swords&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=-7VZhjT6bN_7FM:&imgrefurl=http://theseventhwaves.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html&docid=rGp-C0RfQRXWKM&w=400&h=270&ei=dSNtToOrOsbk0QGeyrTsBA&zoom=1&biw=1020&bih=564&iact=rc&dur=94&page=4&tbnh=124&tbnw=165&start=47&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:47&tx=64&ty=55

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=gupta+empire+temple&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=F1RKwDACD4NjFM:&imgrefurl=http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaStates.htm&docid=ulCHqsYJPcDHMM&w=525&h=350&ei=BDJtTsGgDIfH0AGfxoSRBQ&zoom=1&biw=1020&bih=564&iact=rc&dur=578&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=234&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=207&ty=34