• Founded by Maharaja Sri Gupta.

• Called the golden age.

• Chandra Gupta1 and Samudra Gupta11 were most noble rulers.

• Advancements in science, political administration and academic fields.

• Revival of Sanskrit and Hinduism.

• Compilation of Vedas and Puranas.

• Historians believed that the Gupta dynasty was a Vaishya dynasty.

• There are contradictory theories about the original homeland of the

Guptas.

• Some say they originated from Varendri(Bangladesh) and others say its

from Murshidabad.

• The kingdom spread from Jamuna river in

the West to Assam in the east and to the

Narmada river in the south under the reign of

Chandra Gupta followed by his son Samudra

Gupta.

•Then came the rule of Rama Gupta(eldest son

of Samudra Gupta.

•The greatest ruler was Chandra Gupta11 or

Vikramaditya during whose reign the kingdom

displayed remarkable activity in art, literature

and science.

•Chandragupta II was succeeded by his second

son Kumaragupta I, title- Mahendraditya.

•Skandagupta, son and successor of

• Kumaragupta I is generally considered to be

the last of the great Gupta rulers. He assumed

the titles of Vikramaditya and Kramaditya.

•Nalanda University situated in Magadha(near

modern Patna) was founded during this period.

• Large achievements were made in various fields

-Med-Plastic surgery by Sushruta.

-Mathematics-Zero and the decimal system.

-Astronomy-solar calendar.

• Revival of Hinduism and Sanskrit.

• People were prosperous-large no. of gold coins and highest % of

• gold in the coins.

• Strong trade relations.

• Political administrations reached new heights.

•Classic peak of North Indian art

•Centre of sculptures

-Mathura

-Gandhara

•Greco Buddhist art.

•Ajanta ,Elephanta ,Ellora-caves.

•Udayagiri caves.

•Dashavatara temple at Deogarh.

•Rock cut temples- Ellora

•Kalidas-one of the most famous poet and writer.

Sarnath- Buddha statueEllora caves Ajanta

GUPTA ADMINISTRATION:

- Kingship:•Assumption of High sounding titles.

•Divine nature of Monarchy.

•Ruler was administrator of Law.

•Rulers authority was circumscribed by various checks.

-Mantriparishad:Prime Minister.

Council.

Kumaramatyas.

Fa-Hsien(a Chinese traveller): Life in Gupta period

• He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government

oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity.

•Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste

system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including

"untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is

doomed to menial labor.

•Peacefulness of society, the rarity of serious crime, and the mildness

of the administration.

•Social custom- All respectable persons were vegetarians, meat eating being

confined to low castes and untouchables.

•He found Buddhism still flourishing, but theistic Hinduism was very widespread.

•In the Gupta period 89% of the population was in the rural

areas i.e., in the villages which were not permanent because

of the migration of people due to various factors like war

and other calamities.

•Various invasions also led to the destruction of cities.

•And hence we do not find any traces of urban settlements.

•Therefore we can only find major architectural works like the

temples.

•The only ruins of the settlement found were in BHITARI(an

Ancient village in the GHAZIPUR District, U.P.).

•The name came from the Sanskrit word “BHITTI” (meaning

‘wall’).

•It is on the east bank of river Gargi.

•Temple based settlement supported by the king.

•Several classical temples were excavated mainly three.

•Several inscriptions-reign of Skanda Gupta and Kumara Gupta.

•Single cultured site with short duration occupation.

•It presents the appearance of a very large ruined earthen fort.

•In general form-nearly a rectangle.(East Face-500yards;

•South-525; North-700.)

•Each of the sides had large mounds upon which were either

temples or forts.

•Ruins consisted of broken bricks.

During Gupta period, rock cut architecture reached its zenith and the era

marked the beginning of Free Standing Temple Architecture.

The temples are built on a high plinth.

Plinth area divided in small square or rectangular cells by building walls.

The cells were then filled with compact clay.

Above it , was laid the floor of the temple.

The building material was either bricks or dressed stone blocks.

Brick temples were terraced temples which are said to be originated from Stupa

Architecture.(E.g.- temple at Bhitarigaon)

The stone temples had its roots in the Rock cut temples. (E.g.- temple at Bhitari

In early Gupta temples, Shikharas were not important but became

one of the key features in later Gupta temples.

Main temple or the Garvagriha had the image of the god.

Original temple was connected to the hall buy a vestibule.

There were spacious courtyards around the main temple.

Writing of manuscripts around temple buildings was a common

practice.

Major temples built were:

Dasavtara temple , Deogarh

Shiva temple , Bhumara

Temples at Bhitarigaon

Temple at Sanchi

EXCAVATED TEMPLE AT BHITARI

ISOMETRIC SKETCH PLAN

DASAVTARA TEMPLE DEOGARH

PLAN DASAVTARA TEMPLE

SHIVA TEMPLE BHUMARA

PLAN

MAIN TEMPLE BODH GAYA

PLAN

TEMPLE AT SANCHI

AJANTA CAVES

ELLORA CAVES : KAILASHNATH TEMPLE