The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity
1. Who were the Guptas, and where was their capital located?
Answer:
The Guptas were a powerful dynasty that ruled from the 3rd to the 6th century CE, establishing a significant empire in northern India. Their capital was at Pāṭaliputra (present-day Patna).
2. Why is the Gupta period often referred to as the ‘Classical Age’ of India?
Answer: The Gupta period is called the ‘Classical Age’ due to its remarkable achievements in art, literature, science, mathematics, and architecture, along with a period of peace and stability that fostered cultural and intellectual growth.
3. What is the significance of the Iron Pillar of Delhi?
Answer: The Iron Pillar of Delhi, erected during Chandragupta II’s reign, is over 1,600 years old and remains rust-free, showcasing the advanced metallurgical skills of ancient India. It was dedicated to Viṣhṇu and celebrates the king’s achievements.
4. Who was Chandragupta II, and what was his other name?
Answer: Chandragupta II was a renowned Gupta ruler known for his military conquests and patronage of art and learning. He was also called ‘Vikramāditya’.
5. What role did Samudragupta play in expanding the Gupta Empire?
Answer: Samudragupta, Chandragupta II’s father, expanded the Gupta Empire through military campaigns, defeating many kings and reinstating some as tributaries. His achievements are recorded in the Prayāga Praśhasti by Harisena.
6. What was the Aśhvamedha Yajña, and why was it significant?
Answer: The Aśhvamedha Yajña was a horse sacrifice ritual performed by ambitious kings to assert their power and build mighty empires. It was commemorated with special coins, symbolizing the king’s authority.
7. Who was Faxian, and what did he observe about Gupta society?
Answer: Faxian was a Chinese traveler who visited India in the early 5th century CE. He described Gupta society as prosperous, happy, and well-governed, with charitable institutions and thriving cities, but also noted the harsh treatment of outcastes like the Chanḍālas.
8. How did the Gupta rulers ensure efficient governance?
Answer: The Guptas divided their empire into provinces, granted land to local rulers and priests, and recorded these grants on copper plates. This decentralized system ensured efficient tax collection and local control.
9. What were the main sources of revenue for the Gupta Empire?
Answer: The main sources of revenue were land taxes, fines, taxes on mines, irrigation, trade, and crafts. These funds supported administration, the army, temples, infrastructure, and scholars.
10. How did trade contribute to the prosperity of the Gupta Empire?
Answer: The Gupta Empire promoted vibrant internal and external trade, exporting textiles, spices, ivory, and gemstones to regions like the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and China, boosting the economy and cultural exchanges.
11. Who was Āryabhaṭa, and what were his contributions?
Answer: Āryabhaṭa was a mathematician and astronomer who authored the Āryabhaṭīya. He proposed that the Earth spins on its axis, calculated the length of a year, explained eclipses, and developed mathematical techniques.
12. What was Varāhamihira’s major work, and what topics did it cover?
Answer: Varāhamihira’s major work was the Bṛihat Samhitā, an encyclopedic text covering astronomy, astrology, weather forecasting, architecture, town planning, and farming.
13. Who was Kālidāsa, and what is one of his famous works?
Answer: Kālidāsa was a renowned Sanskrit poet whose celebrated work, Meghadūtam (The Cloud Messenger), describes a yakṣha’s message sent via a cloud, capturing emotions and the landscapes of north India.
14. What is the significance of the Ajanta Caves in the context of Gupta art?
Answer: The Ajanta Caves, supported by the Guptas and Vākāṭakas, are renowned for their rock-cut architecture and vibrant paintings, including depictions of the Jātaka tales, reflecting the high aesthetic standards of Gupta art.
15. How did the Gupta rulers support religious diversity?
Answer: While devout followers of Viṣhṇu, the Gupta rulers supported other traditions, patronizing Buddhist institutions like Nālandā University and vihāras, promoting an inclusive approach.
16. What role did Prabhāvatī Gupta play in the Gupta-Vākāṭaka alliance?
Answer: Prabhāvatī Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II, was married to a Vākāṭaka prince. As regent after his death, she strengthened ties between the Guptas and Vākāṭakas and was associated with constructing Viṣhṇu temples.
17. What were the major contributions of the Gupta period to Āyurveda?
Answer: During the Gupta period, Āyurveda was codified in texts like the Charaka Saṃhitā and Suśhruta Saṃhitā, which covered disease diagnosis, treatments, diet, medicine preparation, and surgical techniques, emphasizing holistic healing.
18. Who were the Pallavas, and what was their capital?
Answer: The Pallavas were a powerful dynasty in southern India, ruling parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was Kānchipuram, known as the ‘city of a thousand temples’.
19. What was the Kāmarūpa kingdom, and where was it located?
Answer: The Kāmarūpa kingdom, ruled by the Varman dynasty, was a prominent cultural and political center in the Brahmaputra valley, covering present-day Assam, parts of Bengal, and Bangladesh.
20. Why did the Gupta Empire decline by the 6th century CE?
Answer: The Gupta Empire declined due to external invasions by the Hūṇa tribe from Central Asia and internal conflicts with rising regional rulers, weakening the empire’s control over northern India.
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