HIS 249:  Pre Modern India     AGE OF EMPIRES: A CLASSICAL AGE?               Outline # 4

320 to c. 700 C.E. [A.D.]

POLITICAL HISTORY: THE GUPTA EMPIRE

Chandragupta I (320-335) 

Samudragupta (335-375) 

Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) (375-415)

Kumaragupta (415-455) 

Skandagupta (455-467) 

Administration = DECENTRALIZED RULE

ECONOMY

Trade expanded as did the Role of Guilds (Shrenis/ Srenis) 

The Gupta Era is famous for the number of Gold Coins found dating to that time, point to prosperity. 

Reasons for the Prosperity:

Imperial Unity

Contribution of the Kushanas

SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

Astronomy and Mathematics: ARYABHATTA and VARAMIHIRA

Concept of Zero, Base 10 numeric system, Heliocentric Universe, Circumference of Earth et al.

Medicine: Susruta, surgery

Metallurgy (Delhi Iron Pillar)

CULTURE

Efflorescence of SANSKRIT literature

Plays like Kalidasa's Shakuntala, Meghdootkavya

Sudraka's Mrichhakatika (a.k.a. "The Little Clay Cart) 

 Exploring human relationships. Kama Sutra

RELIGION and SOCIAL RELATIONS

The Emergence of "Hinduism," with NEW forms of devotion and worship.

PURANAS completed. VISHNU and SHIVA as major deities. 

BHAKTI as a new form of worship

VEDANTA: whose foremost exponent was SHANKARA

YOGA and other schools of philosophy. 

Caste: New CODIFICATION in the DHARMA SHASTRAS, e.g. MANAVADHRAMA SHASTRA (a.k.a. the Code of MANU or MANUSMRITI). All of these emphasize VARNASHRAMA DHARMA or a code of social/ethical/religious behavior stressing the importance of each varna group performing its duty.