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    Ancient History Sample Notes

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    Kenpin Ete
    The Gupta Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that ruled between 320-550 CE. Some key rulers included Chandragupta I who founded the empire, Samudragupta who expanded it greatly, and Chandragupta II who had a powerful empire and patronized the arts and sciences.

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    Ancient History Sample Notes

    Uploaded by

    Kenpin Ete
    53 views10 pages
    The Gupta Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that ruled between 320-550 CE. Some key rulers included Chandragupta I who founded the empire, Samudragupta who expanded it greatly, and Chandragupta II who had a powerful empire and patronized the arts and sciences.

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    The Gupta Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that ruled between 320-550 CE. Some key rulers included Chandragupta I who founded the empire, Samudragupta who expanded it greatly, and Chandragupta II who had a powerful empire and patronized the arts and sciences.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    53 views10 pages

    Ancient History Sample Notes

    Uploaded by

    Kenpin Ete
    The Gupta Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that ruled between 320-550 CE. Some key rulers included Chandragupta I who founded the empire, Samudragupta who expanded it greatly, and Chandragupta II who had a powerful empire and patronized the arts and sciences.

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    You are on page 1of 10

    Gupta Empire

    Chandragupta I
    • Founder of Gupta Empire

    Samudragupta
    • Expanded Gupta Empire 10 times
    • Gave Patronage to Buddhist Scholars like
    Vasubandhu and Asanga
    • His court poet was Harishena
    • Details About him in Allahabad Pillar Inscription

    Chandragupta II
    • He married his daughter Prabhavati Gupta to
    Vakataka King Rudrasena II
    • Conquered Western India Shakas
    • Ports: Broach, Sopara, Cambay and other sea
    ports
    • Fa Hien visited India during his reign
    i. Fa Hien came to India through land route
    but went back through sea route.
    ii. According to him, Buddhism was
    flourishing in North-West India and
    Gangetic Valley had become the land of
    Brahamanism

    Sample Notes Page 1


    Gupta Empire
    Chandragupta II
    • He had Nine Gems in his court:
    i. Kalidasa - Poet
    ii. Shapanaka - Astrologist
    iii. Amarnatha - Wrote Amarkosh (Sanskrit
    Grammar)
    iv. Dhanvantri - Doctor
    v. Varuchii - Grammar Expert
    vi. Varahamihira - Astrologist | Wrote
    Brihatsamhita, Brihadjataka and Panch
    Siddhantika
    vii. Ghatakpara - Architect
    viii. Shanku - Geologist
    ix. Vetalabhadra - Expert in Black Magic and
    Tantric Science | Also known as Mega
    Brahmin | Wrote 16 stanza poem Niti
    Pradipa (Lamp of Conduct)

    Kumargupta
    • Founder of Nalanda University
    • Threat of Hunas Invasion started during his
    time

    Sample Notes Page 2


    Gupta Empire
    Skandagupta
    • Large scale Huna Invasion ultimately leading to
    weakening of Gupta Empire
    • 2 Famous Huna Rulers - Toramana and
    Mihirakula

    Kingdom after the Fall of Gupta Empire


    1. Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
    2. Maukharies of Kannuaj
    3. Maitrakas of Vallabhi
    4. Late Guptas
    5. Yashodharma of Malwa

    Administration under Guptas


    • Sabha : Council of Ministers
    • Amatyas and Sachivas : Executive Officers
    • Mahanandanayaka : Chief Justice
    • Vinayasitishpataka : Morale and Social
    Discipline
    • Dutakas : Espionage or Spies Network
    • Sandhi Vigrahika : Minister of Peace and War
    • Ranabhandagarika : Look after day to day
    needs of the army

    Sample Notes Page 3


    Gupta Empire
    Administration under Guptas
    • Vishaya : Provice
    • Vishayapati : Head of Province
    • Grama : Village
    • Gramadhyaksha : Head of Village
    • Nagara Sresthis : City Administration
    • Vishti : Forced Labour (PYQ Question)
    • Taxes : Uparikara, Udranga and Hiranya
    • Dinaras : Gold Coins
    • Atavirajyas : Forest Kingdoms
    • Kulyavapa : 12 to 16 acres of land
    • Dronavapa : 0.5 to 2 acres of land
    • Adhavapa :0.375 to 0.5 acres of land
    • Important Ports: Ghantasala, Kadura,Chaul,
    Lothal, Muziris

    Gupta Literature
    1. Kalidasa
    a. Plays: Abhigyan Shakuntalam,
    Malvikagnimitra and Vikramorvasiya
    b. Epics: Raghuvamsa and Kumarsambhava
    c. Lyrics: Ritusamhara and Meghaduta

    Sample Notes Page 4


    Gupta Empire
    Gupta Literature
    2. Vishakadutta - Mudrarakshasha and
    Devichandraguptam
    3. Sudraka - Mrichhatkatika (Rich in Humour)
    4. Bharvi - Kritarjuniya (Story of Conflict between
    Arjun and Shiva)
    5. Dandin - Kavyadassa and Dasakumaracharita
    6. Subandhu - Vasavadutta
    7. Vishnu Sharma - Panchtantra stories
    8. Amarsimha - Amarkosha
    9. Aryabhatta - Aryabhatiya
    10. Vagbhatta - Astangasamhita or Astanga
    Samagraha (Summary of 8 branches of
    medicine)
    11. Kamandaka - Nitisara
    12. Manjushri Mulakalpa (Mahayana Buddhist Text)
    13. Harivamsha Purana (Jain Text)
    14. Tiloya Pannati (Jain Text)
    15. Kathasaritsgara (Storehouse of popular folklore)
    16. Vatsayana - Kamasutra
    17. Faxian - A record of Buddhist Kingdoms

    Sample Notes Page 5


    Gupta Empire

    Sample Notes Page 6


    Gupta Empire
    Prelims PYQ
    With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India
    during the Gupta period, which one of the
    following statements is correct?
    (a) It was considered a source of income for the
    State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
    (b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh
    and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
    (c) The forced labourer was entitled to weekly
    wages.
    (d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the
    forced labourer.

    Solution: Option C

    Sample Notes Page 7


    Gupta Empire
    Prelims PYQ
    With reference to the period of the Gupta
    dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala,
    Kadura and Chaul were well known as
    (a) ports handling foreign trade
    (b) capitals of powerful kingdoms
    (c) places of exquisite stone art and architecture
    (d) important Buddhist pilgrimage centres

    Solution: Option A

    Sample Notes Page 8


    Gupta Empire
    Prelims PYQ
    With reference to the history of India, the terms
    “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote
    (a) measurement of land
    (b) coins of different monetary value
    (c) classification of urban land
    (d) religious rituals

    Solution: Option A

    Note: This question is covered in our notes. If you


    are not able to recall, then you need to revise
    again. Do not just move pages unless you are sure
    that you know each and every word of the
    previous page.

    Sample Notes Page 9


    Gupta Empire
    Prelims PYQ
    With reference to the Scholars/literatures of
    ancient India, consider the following statements:
    1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra
    2. Amarsimha is associated with Harshavardhana
    3. Kalidasa is associated with chandragupta-II
    Which of the above given statements is/are
    correct?
    (a) 1 and 2 only
    (b) 2 and 3 only
    (c) 3 only
    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    Solution: Option C

    Note: All are among the nine gems of


    Chandragupta II of Gupta Empire.

    Sample Notes Page 10

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