The Gupta Period in Indian History

The Gupta Period

• Known as the period of 'Efflorescence' or the 'Classical age' or the 'Golden age'
• Characterized by the presence of idols of Lord Vishnu, Shiva, and other Hindu Gods
• Tolerant towards other religions, as evident from the 25-meter bronze image of Buddha recovered from Sultanganj, Bhagalpur
• The Ajanta Paintings, which largely belong to this period, showcase the cultural richness of the time

Art and Architecture

• Reached its climax in metal image casting during this period
• Deficient in architectural aspects, with only a few brick temples made of brick from Uttar Pradesh and a stone temple recovered
• Important brick temples include Bhitargaon in Kanpur, Bhitari in Ghazipur, and Deogarh in Jhansi

Administration

• Decentralized in nature, with the king as the central figure
• Kings adopted pompous titles such as maharajadhiraja, parama bhattaraka, parameshvara, etc. to exalt their status
• The post of king was hereditary, but the practice of primogeniture was not followed
• The king was responsible for ensuring the security of the countrymen from foreign invasions and leading the army in case of conflicts
• Kings were assisted by princes, ministers, and advisors

Provincial Administration

• Empire divided into Provinces referred to as desha, rashtra, or bhukti, headed by an uparika
• Provinces further subdivided into districts called Vishayas, led by a Vishyapati
• Vishayas further divided into Villages, led by a Village headman called gramadhyaksha or gramika, who played a major role in village affairs

Quiz about the Gupta Period, known as the 'Golden Age' of India, characterized by cultural and artistic developments.