Gupta Empire: Archaeological and Literary Sources

Questions and Answers

Chandragupta I was succeeded by his son ______.

Samudragupta

The Allahabad pillar inscription was written by Samudragupta's court poet ______.

Harisena

Samudragupta was referred to as the '______ of India' due to his military conquests.

Napoleon

In Phase I, Samudragupta defeated the rulers of ______ doab and annexed their kingdoms.

Ganga-Yamuna Signup and view all the answers

Samudragupta brought the forest kingdoms known as ______ rajyas under the control of the Guptas.

Atavika Signup and view all the answers

Samudragupta's army reached as far as ______ (Tamil Nadu), where the Pallavas were forced to acknowledge his suzerainty.

Kanchi Signup and view all the answers

Inscriptions and coins are the main ______ sources to know about the Guptas.

archeological Signup and view all the answers

Chandragupta I was the first powerful ruler of the ______ dynasty.

Gupta Signup and view all the answers

______ and Uttarakhand were among the regions ruled by the Guptas initially.

Bihar Signup and view all the answers

We get information from the coins of ______ I, his queen Kumaradevi, and others.

Chandragupta Signup and view all the answers

The ______ pillar inscription is one of the main inscriptions that provide valuable information.

Allahabad Signup and view all the answers

The Chinese traveler ______ visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II.

Fahien Signup and view all the answers

The ______ literature of Kalidasa throw light on the society and policy of the Gupta Empire.

Sanskrit Signup and view all the answers

Chandragupta I was described in the inscriptions with the title of ______.

Maharajadhiraja Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sources of Information about the Guptas

Inscriptions and coins are the primary archeological sources to know about the Guptas
Many gold and silver coins have been found in the regions of present-day Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand, bearing the names of kings and deities on the reverse
Inscriptions are mainly in the form of prashastis (praise of kings), including the Allahabad pillar inscription, Udaygiri cave inscription, Mathura stone inscription, Bhitari pillar inscription, and Sanchi inscription
Monuments provide information about the different forms of art and architecture during the reign of the Guptas
Chinese traveler Fahien's account provides valuable information on various aspects of Indian society under the Gupta rulers
Sanskrit literature of Kalidasa, the epics, and Puranas throw light on the society and policy of the Gupta Empire

Rulers of the Gupta Empire

Chandragupta I (c. 320 – c. 335 CE)

First powerful ruler of the Gupta dynasty
Son of Ghatotkacha and grandson of Sri Gupta
Described in inscriptions with the title of Maharajadhiraja (the great king of all kings)
Considered the founder of the Gupta Empire
Expanded his territory through marriage alliances with the Licchavis (Nepal) and conquests
Married Kumaradevi, a Lichchavi princess from Vaishali, enhancing his power and prestige
Gold coins of Chandragupta I show the image of Kumaradevi on them
Extended his kingdom through conquests, becoming the ruler of Prayaga (Allahabad), Saket (Ayodhya), and Magadha (South Bihar)
Laid the foundation for the empire's future prosperity
Succeeded by his son Samudragupta

Samudragupta I (c. 335 – c. 375 CE)

Son of Chandragupta I and regarded as one of the finest and most significant rulers of the Gupta dynasty
The Allahabad pillar inscription (Allahabad Prashasti) is the most authentic source of information about his conquest
Great warrior and conqueror, referred to as the "Napoleon of India" due to his military conquests
Followed a policy of conquest and expansion, with his conquests divided into five phases:
- Defeated rulers of Ganga-Yamuna doab and annexed their kingdoms
- Included rulers of eastern Himalayan regions of Nepal, Assam, Bengal, etc. who surrendered to his might
- Brought the forest kingdoms known as Atavika rajyas situated in the Vindhya region (central India) under the control of the Guptas
- Defeated twelve rulers of eastern Deccan and south India, liberating them and receiving tributes and presents from the Pallavas of Kanchi (Tamil Nadu)