Gupta Dynasty ReUnites India Classical India 375 550

Gupta Dynasty Re-Unites India (Classical India) 375 -550 CE • OVERVIEW: • Chandra Gupta founded it • Peaceful • great traders • strong art, science and mathematics • Hinduism dominated • The Gupta have strong central govt which allowed a degree of local control

Politics • Chandra Gupta (320 -335 AD) – Alliances & Conquest – Consolidated Power & Territory – Drove out the Kushans • Samudra Gupta (335 -375 AD) • Chandra Gupta II (375 -415 AD) – Decentralization – Peace & Prosperity (Faxian)

Chandra Gupta I (reigned AD 320 -c. 330), • Pataliputra : Mauryan capital: magnificent palaces, temples, parks • Path to Power – Increased the power and territory of his regional kingdom by marrying Princess Kumaradevi whose family controlled northern India/Nepal. • Other N. Indian territories joined this alliance for protection and trade as his power grew Kumardevi and Chandragupta I 335 -370 ce Gold Dinar

Samudra Gupta (son of Chandra) • launched wars of conquest across N. India • Built a larger Gupta empire • Wealth came from many mines owned by govt

Gupta Economy • owned gold mines, silver mines, and vast lands. • rent money from farmers funded government (govt owned the land) • Silk Road served Gupta, Han, Rome and Persia Dynasties • Indian merchants shipped ivory, jewels, and textiles, salt and iron • The Romans traded glass, jewels, and clothes. • Chinese merchants traded silk, spices, tea, and porcelain. • The Gupta Empire profited greatly from religious trade and religious pilgrims.

Gupta social life • VERY wealthy civilization • enjoyed gardens, music, and daily bathing • ate lots of variety; rice, bread, fish, milk, fruits and juices. • slave labor • Hinduism became more organized & temples became more important. • Women lost rights compared to under Buddhism • Child marriage became common for girls • HINDUSIM returns as dominant religion

Gupta Math/Science • Invented numbers 1 -9, decimal system, pi • Zero invented by Aryabata • Charted planets and star movements • recognized the Earth is round and rotates on its axis and revolves around sun. • Indian physicians excelled in medicines, caesarean section, bone setting, and skin grafting, smallpox vaccination

Gupta Buddhist Art • AJANTA CAVES • depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce.

AJANTA CAVES. • During the 4 th century c. e. • Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls. • twenty-nine caves • adorned with elaborate painting and sculptures

Ajanta Caves • The Ajanta caves depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce. • The 29 caves were built by Buddhist monks using simple tools like hammer & chisel. • The elaborate and exquisite sculptures and paintings depict stories from Jataka tales. • The caves also house images of nymphs and princesses.

the Sarnath Buddha

Gupta Decline Later Gupta rulers lived extravagantly, which weakened the people’s loyalty. – Guptas weakened by the expense of the War with White Huns and competing India kingdoms

White Huns c. 500 ce invade through Kyber Pass and Ganges Valley • destroyed cities and reduced Hindu temples to rubble. • Feudal provinces declare independence when Gupta are destroyed • India seperates into independent kingdoms. • not unified again until the Muslims in the 11 th century