Unofficial Intro to India Pages
GUPTA EMPIRE
- CHANDRA GUPTA I: 320-335 A.D.
- Married Lichchavi princess. . .to political sanction?
Ashwamedha Yagna
- SAMUDRA GUPTA: 335-375 A.D.
- Eulogy inscribed on Ashokan pillar
- Expansionist conquests. . .re-emergence of characteristics of Mauryan empire
- Power of tribal republics broken. . .poor consequences for later Guptas
- Old conflicts between case and tribe re-emerges
- Samudra Gupta. . .artistic, coins and eulogy
- CHANDRA GUPTA II: 375-415 A.D.
- Play Devichandraguptam killed brother rescued his
wife and ascended the throne
- Major conflict against Shakas
- Annexed territory by peaceful means. . .marriage alliances
- KUMARA GUPTA and SKANDA GUPTA
- Problems with Huns, economic decline. . .from coins
- All energies spent fighting the Huns
- Movement of peoples of different ethnicities
- HARSHA: 606 A.D.
- Harshacharita
- Hsuan Tsang
- PROBLEMS OF MAINTAINING AN EMPIRE
- Feudal ties not strong
- Over centuries groups developed independent identity
- Decentralization
- Land grants weakened authority of kings
- Guilds powerful
- Brahmanical power returns
- Disparity in living conditions
- CLASSICAL AGE
- "Literature, architecture and fine arts reach high level
of excellence to form a standard
for later times"
- Cultural Achievements
- Scholarship
- Sruti - revealed…Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads
- Smriti - remembered
- Sutras or threads. . .sayings
- Shastras. . .instructions (how-to-do manuals)
- Manusmriti
- Dharmashastra
- Kamasutra
- Panini's grammar
- Natyashastra
- Itihasa. . .history
- Mahabharat
- Ramayana
- Puranas
- Kavya. . .poetry
- Shudraka - Little Clay Cart
- Kalidasa - Shakuntala
- Art & Architecture
- Hindu Temple
- Buddhist and Jain architecture continues
- Characteristics
- Moksha
- Rasa
- Classification
- Abhorrence of vacuum
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Chris Sims