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The Gupta Empire Guided Notes

By Katerina Rodgers
Last updated almost 4 years ago
8 Questions
1.

Which Empire is our lesson focused on?

How Did the Gupta Empire Rise and Expand?

With the death of Asoka, many kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent came and went. Around 500 years after the fall of the Mauryan Empire, a great empire again united northern India. The Gupta dynasty reigned from 320 to 540 CE. Chandra Gupta I created the dynasty, which began in Magadha at the center of the Mauryan Empire. He gained this land as a result of his marriage to a princess. Both families had held lands next to one another. The marriage created a new kingdom.
Chandra Gupta I chose his son, Samudra Gupta, as the next emperor. He was said to be a strong warrior, poet, and musician. On his body, he carried "marks of hundreds of wounds received in battle." He began a series of wars that expanded the empire. He conquered many rulers who then paid him tribute.
The golden age of the Gupta Empire occurred during the reign of the Samudra Gupta’s son, Chandra Gupta II (375 – 415 CE). His empire expanded through conquest. India thrived under his rule. Art and architecture flourished.
The Guptas were faithful Hindus. Chandra Gupta II, however, tolerated the Buddhist and Jain religions. The Guptas also supported the caste system.
2.

1. The Mauryan Empire ended after ______.

3.

Who did Chandra Gupta choose to become the next emporer? (what was his name and who was he?)

4.

Check all that can be used to describe Samudra Gupta

5.

What political contribution(s) did Samudra make?

How Did Government Bring About Economic Prosperity?

Gupta emperors created strong governments. Their rule lacked the strictness of the Mauryan emperors. Individual villages and cities held much power. The governments of cities were elected by merchants and artisans.
The peaceful rule brought prosperity. Trade and farming thrived. Farmers grew wheat, rice, and sugar cane. Workers made goods, such as cotton cloth, pottery, and metalware. These goods were sold locally. They were also traded with African, Asian, and Middle Eastern merchants. The Gupta Empire profited from this foreign trade. People of the Gupta Empire also enjoyed foreign goods, such as silk from China. Traders spread Indian culture and beliefs to the places that they traveled. Hinduism spread to parts of Southeast Asia. Buddhism spread to Central Asia, Sri Lanka, China, and Southeast Asia.

What Was the Golden Age of Chandra Gupta?

Under the rule of Chandra Gupta II, a golden age of arts and learning took place. Most learning occurred in religious schools. Some of these schools were Hindu. Others were Buddhist. There was a large monastery and school at Nalanda. It was Buddhist. Students came there from all over Asia to learn math, medicine, science, and more.
Mathematics
Mathematicians of the Gupta Empire created the number system we use today. These numerals are called Arabic, however. This is because the Arabs were the ones to carry the numerals from India to the Middle East and Europe. Indian scholars created the idea of zero. They also developed the decimal system based on ten digits, which we use today. Indian mathematicians were also able to figure out the length of the year and calculated the value of pi.
Literature
Indian writers worked in Sanskrit to record fables and folk tales. These stories spread to Persia, Egypt, and Greece. They became the basis for many later stories that are popular today, such as Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin and his Magic Lamp.
Kalidasa was the most well-known Gupta poet and playwright. His play Shakuntala tells the story of a king who marries an orphan. An evil spell causes the king to forget his wife. He only recalls her after many adventures.
Arts
During the Gupta Empire, the arts flourished. Indian artists carved great sculptures on stone temples. These temples were covered with religious figures and scenes from myths. Music was often heard in the courts. Paintings showed colorful scenes from stories. Famous murals can be found inside cave temples at Ajanta, in west India. Creative dance was also important. Each gesture had special meaning.
Metallurgy
Gupta workers were also skilled at metallurgy. Chandra Gupta I had metal workers build a huge wrought-iron pillar in honor of his father. It still stands today. It is more than twenty-three feet tall and weighs more than six tons. The pillar dates from 400 CE and is located in Delhi, India. This unique design would not be used by Europeans until the 19th century.

What Were the Guptas’ Advancements in Medicine?

Indian doctors used herbs and other medicines to treat disease. They could set bones and perform simple surgeries. They also began vaccinating people against smallpox. This was not done in Europe for another thousand years. The Indian system of medicine, the oldest in the world, was called Ayurveda. This means "knowledge of life." There are still people who practice Ayurveda today.
6.
7.

Explain which of these advancements is the most important in your opinion.


What Brought about the Decline of the Gupta Empire?

Several factors led to the decline of the Gupta Empire. First, the empire was hurt by a series of weak rulers. Challenges to the throne resulted. Many small civil wars occurred. A nomadic group from central Asia called the White Huns frequently invaded India. Cities and trade were destroyed. Once again, India split up into many kingdoms. Another great Indian empire would not arise for nearly a thousand years.
8.

What factors led to the decline of the Gupta Empire? (explain at least 2)