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The Gupta (GOOP-tuh) Empire was an ancient empire that lasted from about 320 CE to 550 CE. At its largest, the Gupta Empire controlled much of northern South Asia. There were also areas under Gupta influence in central South Asia. Even though Gupta emperors did not rule over those areas directly, many leaders in central South Asia gave money to the Gupta Empire and worked with Gupta emperors.
What countries are part of South Asia today?
South Asia includes the present-day countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
The Gupta Empire was not the first empire to rule over South Asia. Before the Gupta Empire, the last major empire to control South Asia was the Mauryan (MAU-ree-uhn) Empire. After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, but before the Gupta Empire, smaller kingdoms ruled the region. They often fought with each other and with foreign civilizations for control of South Asia.
A "dark age" in South Asia?
The period between the Mauryan and Gupta Empires has sometimes been called a "dark age" in South Asian history. When people describe a period as a "dark age," they usually mean that it was a time when people did not make many advances in learning or culture. But the time between the Mauryan and Gupta Empires was not a "dark age"!
Here are some exciting things that were happening in South Asia between the Mauryan and Gupta Empires:
The Hindu religion was changing and people started worshipping new Hindu gods.
Buddhism, a religion that started in South Asia, was developing and becoming more popular.
Artists were developing new forms of art and architecture.
South Asian people were interacting and trading with people to the west and in Southeast Asia.
The Gupta Empire was founded by a man who became known as Chandra Gupta (CHUN-druh GOOP-tuh). Read about Chandra Gupta.
Chandra Gupta was born to a ruling family that was not very powerful. But in 320 CE, Chandra Gupta married Princess Kumaradevi. She came from a more powerful family that controlled an area along the Ganges River. By marrying her, Chandra Gupta expanded the area he controlled and began forming an empire.
Chandra Gupta tried to model his new empire after the Mauryan Empire, which had ruled South Asia hundreds of years before. For example, his name was not originally Chandra Gupta. He changed his name as an adult to take the name of the founder of the Mauryan Empire. He also wanted Pataliputra to be his capital because it had been the capital of the Mauryan Empire.
A "great king of kings"
When Chandra Gupta married and started the Gupta Empire, he gave himself the title "great king of kings." Chandra Gupta wanted to create a great empire, so he gave himself a grand title.
Although Chandra Gupta believed he was truly a "great king of kings," he was not the only person with that title. In fact, around Chandra Gupta's time many local leaders were also calling themselves "great king of kings." Most of them only controlled small regions, but like Chandra Gupta, they wanted to have impressive titles.
Chandra Gupta founded the Gupta empire around 320 CE, after hundreds of years of foreign invasions and rule. This began a period sometimes called the Gupta Era.
The Gupta Era is often described as a "golden age" in South Asian history. A "golden age" is a time that many people consider to have been successful and safe. It stands out from other periods as a time when art and learning flourished and when people were happy.
Other "golden ages"
South Asia is not the only place that has been described as having had a "golden age." Here are some other famous "golden ages":
Athens, a city-state in ancient Greece, became powerful around the 5th century BCE. Many of the cultural and political achievements of that time are still remembered today.
The Han Dynasty controlled parts of East Asia beginning around the 3rd century BCE. During the Han Dynasty, people studied and developed many philosophies, or ways of thinking about the world.
The Maya Empire ruled over parts of North and Central America. During the 3rd century CE, the Maya civilization included many large cities with impressive temples and palaces.
Chandra Gupta established the Gupta Empire around 320 CE, and his son, Samudra Gupta, ruled after him from about 335 to 375 CE. Samudra Gupta is most remembered for extending the influence of the Gupta Empire through wars.
In the 4th century, an inscription was carved into a stone pillar to honor Samudra Gupta. Read part of the text from the pillar.
Who was skillful in engaging in a hundred battles of various kinds; whose only ally was the [strength] of his own arm . . . .
Who put to shame . . . others by his sharp and polished intellect and [singing] skill and musical accomplishments . . . .
Who was a mortal only in celebrating the rites of the observance of mankind, (but was otherwise) a god, dwelling on earth.
Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, A History of India, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2016 by Routledge.
The "king of poets"
Samudra Gupta wanted people to remember him as more than just a powerful leader. He also wanted people to think of him as a great artist:
One text described him as a talented writer, calling him a "king of poets."
Coins from his rule show him playing musical instruments.
An ancient inscription said that he was a better singer than the musicians who perform for the gods.
Samudra Gupta is remembered for fighting many wars to spread the Gupta Empire. But some evidence suggests that he was more interested in extending his influence than in ruling new territories.
Friends from far away
One famous relationship that Samudra Gupta developed was with a ruler of Ceylon (si-LON), which is present-day Sri Lanka. The king of Ceylon sent gifts to Samudra Gupta and asked if he could construct a building in the Gupta Empire.
The king of Ceylon followed the religion of Buddhism. There was an important Buddhist site in the Gupta empire, and he wanted to build a place for Buddhists to live near that site. Samudra Gupta agreed to let him. What do you think Samudra Gupta wanted to gain by doing favors for other kings?
Another famous ruler of the Gupta Empire was Chandra Gupta II. Chandra Gupta II ruled the Gupta Empire when it was at its biggest and most successful. He also spread the Gupta Empire and added territory that allowed the empire to expand trade routes.
Chandra Gupta II becomes emperor after his father, Samudra Gupta, dies.
Emperor Chandra Gupta II has his daughter, Prabhavatigupta, marry a king ruling in central South Asia. Her marriage creates an alliance between Chandra Gupta II and the king.
After he has allies in central South Asia,Chandra Gupta II goes to war and conquers an area along the northwestern coast.
The Gupta Empire expands trade routes through its new territory. Increasing trade allows the Gupta Empire to become wealthier and more powerful.
Gupta emperors controlled northern South Asia for more than 200 years, but other groups did sometimes challenge their power. One group that tried to overtake Gupta territories were the Huns, a group from Central Asia.
Hun kings in South Asia
King Toramana was the first Hun ruler to really threaten the stability of the Gupta Empire. Around 500 CE, he invaded the Gupta Empire from the northwest. He conquered a large part of the empire and took the title "great king of kings."
Although Toramana was able to control a large part of South Asia, his son was less successful. His son was defeated in battle and lost much of the territory that his father had conquered.
The Gupta Empire is remembered for its powerful leaders. But it is also remembered because many parts of South Asian life and culture changed under the Gupta Empire. For example, the Gupta Empire expanded trade routes to connect South Asia with other parts of the world through the Silk Road. The Silk Road was a long network of trade routes between East Asia and Europe. The following map shows where certain goods were produced. It also shows the routes that those goods were traded on.
South Asian trade before the Gupta Empire
Although trade expanded during the Gupta Era, merchants in South Asia had already been trading with other regions for thousands of years. For example, there is evidence that people in South Asia were trading with people in Africa and the Middle East for 2,000 years before the Gupta Empire! During the first century, merchants in South Asia also traded regularly with people in places as far away as Rome, in present-day Italy.
Rulers of the Gupta Empire are remembered for spreading the religion of Hinduism and strengthening its influence on South Asian culture.
The Dashavatara Temple
The Dashavatara Temple, also called the Vishnu Temple, is one of the oldest Hindu temples still standing. It was built around 500 CE, during the Gupta Empire. The temple is dedicated to the god Vishnu. Gupta emperors were especially devoted to Vishnu, and they were known for encouraging other Hindus to worship Vishnu, too.
Buddhist art under Hindu rulers
Although Gupta emperors were Hindus, they allowed people to practice other religions. The government even gave money to support Buddhist artists. These statues of the Buddha, an important Buddhist figure, were all created under the Gupta Empire.
Even before the Gupta Empire, people in South Asia had developed and used different number systems. During the time of the empire, scholars used those systems to make some important advances in mathematics.
In addition to developing new math concepts, there were also advances in science and medicine during the Gupta Empire.
How many days are in a year?
Around the year 500 CE, a man named Aryabhata made many important advances in math and astronomy.
One of of his most impressive achievements was calculating how long it takes the earth to orbit the sun. In other words, he discovered how many days there are in a year! He calculated that there are 365.3586 days in a year. That's almost exactly right! There are actually 365.2422 days in a year.
During the Gupta Empire, many texts were written in an ancient language called Sanskrit. Two famous texts that were recorded in Sanskrit were a play called Shakuntala and a set of rules called the Laws of Manu.
Read about each text.
Shakuntala tells the story of a young woman named Shakuntala who meets and marries a king. After their marriage, a man curses Shakuntala so that the king will forget her. At first the king does forget Shakuntala, but eventually he remembers her.
The Laws of Manu does not tell a story. Instead, it is a text that describes ancient rules and ideas about duty. It describes different social groups and includes rules and duties for people to follow based on which social group they were born into.
The story of Shakuntala
Shakuntala is the story of a young woman who meets and marries a king. The king is traveling and has to leave Shakuntala behind, but he promises to come back for her.
While they are separated, a man curses Shakuntala so that the king will no longer remember her. The man's curse is successful, and when Shakuntala sees the king again, he does not recognize her. Shakuntala is heartbroken and leaves to live in the forest. Eventually, the king sees a ring that he had given Shakuntala and remembers her.
How is the Gupta Empire remembered today?
The Gupta Empire is remembered for being one of the most successful empires in South Asian history. Gupta emperors ruled for more than 200 years. During their reign, trade increased and scholars made many advances in math and science. Art, literature, and religion also flourished during the Gupta Era.
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