Gupta Dynasty

Gupta Empire 2

Multiple Choice

Who was the founder of Gupta Dynasty?

• Sri Gupta

• Samudragupta

• Chandragupta I

• Chandragupta II

Multiple Choice

Which Gupta emperor was an expert Veena player?

• Chandragupta I

• Samudragupta

• Chandragupta II

• Sri Gupta

Multiple Choice

Who was the court poet of Samudragupta?

• Harisena

• Asanga

• Vasubandhu

Multiple Choice

The first ruler of the Gupta dynasty who adopted the grand title of maharaj- adhiraja was

• Samudragupta

• Chandragupta

• Skandhagupta

• Both (a) and (c).

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the features of Prashastis written about Samudragupta

(I) He is also described as equal to the farmers

(II) The prashasti was composed in very short sentences

(III) He is stated as a learned and the best of poets

• I,II only

• II,III only

• I only

• II only

Multiple Choice

we can learn about the Gupta rulers from their

• inscriptions and caves

• inscriptions and coins

• inscriptions and books

• inscriptions and internet

Multiple Choice

Kumaradevi was the mother of ___________

• Samundragupta

• Ramagupta

• Chandragupta

• Indragupta

Gupta Empire the foundation

•The Gupta empire was founded by Sri Gupta sometime between 240 and 280 CE.

•Sri Gupta's son and successor, Ghatotkacha, ruled from around 280 to 319 CE.

•Chandragupta I , Ghatokacha’s son, ascended the throne around 319 and ruled until 335 CE.

•He married Lichchhavi princess Kumradevi. The Lichchhavis were ruling parts of Nepal

•He confined his rule to Magadha and parts of eastern Uttarpradesh

•He assumed the title of Magarajadhiraj

Samudragupta ( 335CE to 334 CE ) 

•Chandragupta was succeeded by his son Samudragupta

•He one of the greatest rulers of ancient India

•During his rule the Gupta empire extended from Allahabad to the borders of Bengal

•He defeated twelve kings of South India . Several kings of north India was uprooted and their territories were annexed to the Gupta empire.

•Sumudragupta was not only a powerful military commander but also a lover of poetry and music. 

Chandragupta II ( Vikramaditya ) – 380 CE to 412 CE

•After gaining power, Chandragupta II expanded the Gupta Empire through conquest and political marriages until the end of his reign in 413 CE.

•By 395 CE, his control over India extended coast-to-coast.

•Just like Ashoka, Chandragupta II made Pataliputra the capital of his empire and centralized the government there.

•He also made Ujjain his second capital.

•He assumed the title of Vikramaditya

Gupta Period – The Golden Age 

•Chandragupta II court was adorned by nine scholars who were called navaratnas

•The Navaratnas included the famous poet Kalidasa, the Sankrit grammarian Amarasimha , astronomer Varahamihira and physician Dhanvantri. 

Gupta Empire - Golden Age

•Kalidasa is the immortal poet and playwright of India and a peerless genius whose works became famous worldwide in modern world. Translation of Kalidasa’s works in numerous Indian and Foreign Languages have spread his fame all of the word and now he ranks among the top poets of all times. Some of the famous works of Kalidasa are Meghaduta, Kumarashambhaba, Abhijanashakuntalam, Raguvansham

Nalanda University

•Nalanda, ancient university and Buddhist monastic centre in Bihar.

• Nalanda’s traditional history dates to the time of the Buddha (6th–5th centuries BCE) and Mahavira, the founder of the Jaina religion.

•Extensive excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India indicate, however, that the foundation of the monasteries belongs to the Gupta period (5th century CE) during the rule of the Gupta ruler Kumaragupta .

•The powerful 7th-century ruler of Kanauj , Harshavardhan, is reported to have contributed to them. During his reign the Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang stayed at Nalanda for some time and left a clear account of the subjects studied there and of the general features of the community. 

•Nalanda continued to flourish as a centre of learning under the Pala dynasty (8th–12th centuries)

•At its peak, the university attracted scholars and students from as far away as China, Greece, and Persia.

•Nalanda was sacked by Turkic Muslim invaders under Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1193, a milestone in the decline of Buddhism in India. 

Decline of the Gupta Empire

•Chandragupta II was succeeded by his son Kumargupta who was inturn succeeded by his son Skandagupta

•During his reign Skandagupta was faced by the threat of invasion from White Huns

•The Huns were excellent horsemen and archers

•Skandagupta and his succesors found it very difficult to withstand them

•While the Gupta reign lingered on till the middle of the 6th century CE , their glory was lost about a century ago 

Multiple Choice

The rulers of Aryavarta- here there were ______ rulers who were uprooted, and their kingdoms were made a part of Samudragupta?s empire

• Nine

• eight

• ten

• Twelve

Multiple Choice

The rulers of ______ Here there were twelve rulers and they surrendered to Samudragupta after being defeated and he then allowed them to rule again

• Dakshinapatha

• Aryavarta

• Outlying area

• Inner neighbouring state

Multiple Choice

_____________ means list of ancestors

• Germinology

• Hereditary

• Genealogist

• Geology

Multiple Choice

The Gupta empire started declining during _______________reign

• Chandraguta II

• Skandagupta

• Kumaragupta

Open Ended

What were the reasons of decline of the Gupta empire ?

Open Ended

Why is the Gupta period known as the Golden period of Indian history ?