The Gupta EmpireBy Grant Dachroeden

Location and time Around 320 CE to 600 CE Northern India, from Pakistan to

Bangladesh

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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>.