The Gupta Empire 320 C E 600 C

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 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 Censored