RulersSri Gupta(Founder) 310 AD- 319 ADSri Guptaestablishes theGupta DynastyFounder of GuptaEmpireSon - GhatotkachChandragupta I(319 AD - 334AD)320 AD/319 ADStarted Gupta EraTitle -MaharajadhirajaMarriedKumaradevi(LichchaviPrincess)Issued gold coins(Dinars) in largenumbersSamudragupta(335 AD - 380AD)Becomes the mostgreatest &powerful GuptakingRecord in PrayagPrasasti(Allahabad PillarInscription)Poet Harisenacomposed hisachievements inPrayag Prasasti.Titles -Kaviraja(king ofpoets), ParamBhagavat,Lichchavidauhitra,Also known asSarva-raj-ochchetta(uprooter of allking).In his reign hewas neverdefeated.Called "Napoleonof India" by V.A.SmithShown playingVeena on coinsPerformedAshwamedhaYajnaChandragupta II(Vikramaditya)(380 AD - 414AD)Ascends thethrone after killinghis brotherRamgupta(1stIntroduce CopperCoins) and Sakainvader.Introduced silvercoins afterdefeating SakasMarriedDhruvadevi(Brother’s wife)IntroducedWatermarkDaughterPrabhavati Guptamarried VakatakaPrince RudrasenaII to formmatrimonialalliance.VakatakaIndirectly ruled byGuptas after thedeath ofRudrasena II →Wife ascended thethrone.Mehrauli IronPillar Inscription -Vidisha(MP)Fa-Hein (Chinesetraveler) visitedIndia, StartedBengal and backto China.Books byKalidasa areAbhigyanShakuntalam,Meghaduta,RaghuvamsaBooks by SudrakaMrichhakatika(Thelittle clay art) -Love storyCharudata &Vasantsena.Chandragupta IINavratnas (9Gems) in his courtKalidasa (Poet) -Also Known asShakespeare ofIndiaAmarsimha(Lexicographer)Dhanvantri(Physician)Harisena (Courtpoet)Sanku (Architect)Varahamihira(Astronomer)Vararuchi(Grammarian)Vetalbhatta(Magician)Kahapanaka(Astrologer)Kumaragupta I(415 AD - 455AD)Son ofChandragupta IIFounded NalandaUniversityFaced HunainvasionsSkandagupta (455AD - 467 AD)SuccessfullyResisted HunaattacksTitleVikramaditya(Source BhitariPillar Inscription)RepairedSudarshan LakeMoved capital toSaketa (renamedas Ayodhya) afterlegendary cityRamayana.AdministrationDecentralizedAdministrationEmpire -Centralized rulewith adecentralizedadministration.1. Bhuktis (underthe charge ofUparika) Dividedinto districts.2. Vishayas (underthe charge ofVishaya Patis)District-levelofficers managinggovernance.3. Vithis (underthe charge ofNagarpati) Townadministration.4. Villages (underthe charge ofGramika) Localgovernance underGramika.Senabhaktam -Army was to befed by peoplewhen passingthrough villages.Important OfficersKumaramatyas -Most importantprovincial officer.MahadandaNayaka - Officerresponsible forpunishment(Minister ofJustice).Sandhivigrahika -Officer of Warand Justice.Nagara Shresthi -Chief banker (Notheld by Harisena).EconomyIssued a largenumber of goldcoinsSymbol ofeconomicprosperity.TaxesBhaga - 1/6th ofproduce paid bycultivators.Bhoga - Periodicsupplies of fruit &flowers to theKing.Bali - Consideredoppressive.Uparikara - Extratax imposed.Vishti - A form offorced labor.Halivarika - Taxon ploughownership.Udakabhaga -Water tax.Hirayana - Specialpurpose tax.CultureVaraha Idol (GreatBoar)ProctectingGoddess EarthBuilt byChandragupta II.Avatar of Vishnu.Located inUdaygiri, Vidisha,MP.ArchitectureDasavataraTemple (Deogarh)- Located inLalitpur, UttarPradesh.BhitargaonTemple, Kanpur,UP - Dedicated toLord Krishna.Also known as the"Brick Temple,"one of the oldest.Eran PillarInscription (MP)First knowninscriptionalevidence of Satipractice (5thCentury CE).Bagh Caves,Madhya PradeshFamous forancient muralpaintings.Vakataka Dynasty(250 AD-500 AD)Vakataka DynastyFeudatories ofSatavahanasContemporaries ofGupta dynasty.FollowedBrahmanism butalso patronizedBuddhism.Ruled in Central& Southern IndiaFounder -VindhyashaktiMentioned inPuranas as"Vindhyakas."Total Puranas -18, written bySage Vyasa.Last ProminentRuler -Prabhavatigupta.Ajanta Caves -Built underVakataka kingHarishena'spatronage.Gupta Empire (310 AD - 540 AD)
