The Gupta Empire (320 C.E. – 600 C.E.)

Global I Honors: Spiconardi

The Empire•Founded in c. 320

C.E. near the Ganges River, the Hindu Gupta Empire was smaller than the Mauryan Empire

•Ushered in the Golden Age of India▫Relative peace (until

Huna invasion)▫Trade flourished▫Advancements in the

arts and sciences

Trade•Why did trade flourish under

the Gupta?▫Centralized government

Controlled salt and metal trade Silk Road

Cotton, sugar, cinnamon, and pepper were exchanged for Chinese and Middle Eastern goods

One-quarter tax on agricultural production

Required labor on state projects

Fall of the Gupta• The White Hun Invasion

▫White Huns are related to the Xiognu, but different from the Huns of Attila

▫Enter Gupta India in 450 C.E.

▫White Huns takeover parts of Gupta Empire, but Gupta defend against a complete takeover Efforts to resist the

White Huns would led to eventual collapse of the Gupta empire

Fall of the Gupta• Buddhism loses influence and popularity in India

▫White Hun invasion of northwest India destroyed Buddhist monasteries

• Decentralized India▫After the fall of the Gupta in c. 600 C.E., India

once again ruled by numerous regional kingdoms

Legacy •Golden Age of India (refer to previous

lesson for mathematical and scientific achievements)▫Art

Ajanta Caves Caves with paintings and sculptures of Buddhist art

Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves

Legacy

•Chess▫Gupta are believed to have invented the

first version of chess Infantry, cavalry, elephants, chariotry (pawn,

knight, bishop, and rook, respectively)•Devanagari Numerals

•Continued Asoka’s policy of religious tolerance

Legacy•Literature

▫Written in Sanskrit▫Most notorious work of literature from the Gupta

is the Kama Sutra Kama Sutra collection of works that provide a

manual for relationships, sexual intercourse, and gender behavior

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