Summary on Guptas

SUMMARY

• After the Mauryan Empire, the Gupta kingdom emerged as a great power.

• Sri Gupta founded the Gupta dynasty.

• Samudragupta (335–375 CE) conquered and consolidated the empire.

• Chandragupta II through his conquests and matrimonial alliances extended the empire further.

• Kumara Gupta founded the Nalanda University.

• Skanda Gupta repulsed the Huns but Huns’ invasion strained his treasury.

• The Gupta kings claimed divine status and were assisted by Council of Ministers and a band of officials.

• The Gupta rulers patronised art, literature and science. Kalidasa, Harisena, Amarasimha, Dhanvantri and Varahamihira adorned their court.

The drain of treasury because of Huns’ invasion and the weak successors of later Guptas led to the disintegration of the Gupta Empire.