The Golden Age: Gupta Empire

The areas that formed a part of the kingdom of Chandragupta I included areas of modern Bihar, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bengal, and Magadha along with its capital city, Pataliputra.

Prayaga Prashasti, an inscription in Sanskrit engraved on a stone pillar at Allahabad written by Samudragupta's court poet, Harishena is the most important source of information regarding his reign.

Fa-hsien gave a general description of north India at that time. Fa-hsien described people as honest, prosperous and happy. Corporal punishments were also rare.

The administrative structure during the Gupta Age was as follows:

1. The Guptas had a strong central government, but they also allowed a certain degree of local control.
2. The king was at the head of the administrative system.
3. The empire was divided into provinces, which were subdivided into districts or vishayas headed by vishayapatis. Councils in each district helped the vishayapatis in administration.
4. Members of the royal family were appointed as governors of provinces and were assisted by officials called kumaramatyas.
5. The Gupta system of urban and rural administration was based on the principle of encouraging as much of local participation as possible.

The Dasavatara Temple at Deogarh is a fine example of Gupta architecture. The roof and pillars of the temple were artistically decorated with fine sculptures and exquisitely carved designs.

Aryabhata, a great mathematician and astronomer, wrote the Aryabhatiya. He accurately calculated the value of π (pi), explained the Earth’s rotation and revolution, and gave scientific reasons for solar and lunar eclipses. The decimal system gave the world a counting system.

Lichchavis.

Prayag Prashasti.

Fa-hsien

frescoes.

It was written by Vishnusharman.

(a) Kalidasa.

(b) Kalidasa enjoyed the patronage of Chandragupta II or Vikramaditya.

(c) Some of the other contributions of Kalidasa to Sanskrit literature are the lyrical poem Meghaduta and plays like Malavikagnimitram, Vikramorvasiyam.

The statements which best support the claim of Gupta Age being the Golden Age of ancient Indian history are:

1. Samudragupta issued eight different types of coins, most of them in gold.

3. Chandragupta II was a great patron of literature and numerous scholars adorned his court—the most prominent being the legendary Kalidasa.

4. Fa-hsien described people as honest, prosperous and happy. Corporal punishments were also rare.