60-second revision
- Gupta era began 319–320 CE under Chandragupta I, who married the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi.
- Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription (Prayag Prashasti) was composed by Harisena.
- Fa-Hien visited under Chandragupta II; Hiuen Tsang under Harsha.
- Nalanda was founded by Kumaragupta I in the 5th century CE; Vikramashila by the Pala king Dharmapala.
- Pulakeshin II (Chalukya) defeated Harsha on the Narmada; Aihole inscription by Ravikirti.
- Kailasa temple, Ellora: Rashtrakuta Krishna I. Brihadeshwara, Thanjavur: Rajaraja I.
- Tripartite struggle for Kannauj: Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas.
- Uttaramerur inscriptions describe how Chola village assemblies were elected.
The Gupta empire (c. 4th–6th century CE)
| Ruler | Remember |
|---|---|
| Sri Gupta | Founder of the line |
| Chandragupta I | Gupta era from 319–320 CE; married the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi; first to take the title Maharajadhiraja |
| Samudragupta | Prayag Prashasti by Harisena; conquered north Indian kings and made southern kings tributaries; veena-playing coins; called "Napoleon of India" by V. A. Smith |
| Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) | Defeated the Shakas of western India; Fa-Hien's visit; Kalidasa associated with his court; Mehrauli iron pillar |
| Kumaragupta I | Founded Nalanda |
| Skandagupta | Repelled the Hunas; repaired the Sudarshana lake |
The Gupta age is often called a classical age for its achievements in culture. Kalidasa wrote Abhijnanashakuntalam and Meghaduta. Aryabhata completed the Aryabhatiya in 499 CE, explaining eclipses and the rotation of the earth; Varahamihira compiled the Brihat Samhita. The Dashavatara temple at Deogarh is an early stone temple, and the Guptas issued many gold coins called dinaras. Feudal tendencies grew as land grants to Brahmins and officials increased.
Gupta rulers took grand titles such as Maharajadhiraja and Parama-bhattaraka. Provinces (bhuktis) were divided into districts (vishayas) and villages, and local bodies of merchants and artisans had a say in town affairs. The empire weakened from the late 5th century under Huna invasions from the north-west, the rise of feudatories, and the loss of trade revenue. Skandagupta held back the Hunas, but under their leaders Toramana and Mihirakula they later overran parts of north and central India.
Harshavardhana (606–647 CE)
Harsha of the Pushyabhuti family moved his capital from Thanesar to Kannauj. His court poet Banabhatta wrote the Harshacharita and Kadambari, and Harsha himself wrote three Sanskrit plays: Nagananda, Ratnavali and Priyadarshika. Hiuen Tsang stayed in his kingdom, studied at Nalanda and described a great assembly at Kannauj and the distribution of gifts at Prayag. Harsha's attempt to expand south was stopped by Pulakeshin II on the Narmada.
Kingdoms of the Deccan and the south
| Dynasty | Capital | Key rulers and works |
|---|---|---|
| Chalukyas of Badami | Vatapi (Badami) | Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha; Aihole inscription by Ravikirti; temples at Aihole, Badami, Pattadakal |
| Pallavas | Kanchipuram | Mahendravarman I (rock-cut temples); Narasimhavarman I Mamalla (rathas at Mamallapuram); Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha (Shore Temple, Kailasanatha at Kanchi) |
| Rashtrakutas | Manyakheta | Dantidurga (founder); Krishna I (Kailasa, Ellora); Amoghavarsha I (Kavirajamarga, early Kannada work) |
| Cholas | Thanjavur, later Gangaikondacholapuram | Vijayalaya (founder, 9th century); Rajaraja I (Brihadeshwara); Rajendra I (Ganga expedition, naval raid on Srivijaya) |
The Chalukyas and Pallavas fought for long over the Krishna-Tungabhadra region; Narasimhavarman I even took Vatapi. Rajendra I took the title Gangaikondachola after his army reached the Ganga, and his navy attacked the Srivijaya kingdom in South-East Asia.
Chola local self-government
- Ur — assembly of ordinary villages.
- Sabha (or mahasabha) — assembly of Brahmin villages (brahmadeyas).
- Nagaram — assembly of merchants in trading towns.
- Uttaramerur inscriptions of Parantaka I describe how sabha members were chosen by lot (kudavolai) from qualified candidates and served on committees (variyams).
North India: the struggle for Kannauj
After Harsha, Kannauj became the symbol of power in north India. Three dynasties fought over it from the 8th to the 10th century: the Palas of Bengal (Gopala, elected founder; Dharmapala, who founded Vikramashila; Devapala), the Gurjara-Pratiharas of western India (Nagabhata II, Mihira Bhoja) and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan. The Pratiharas held Kannauj longest. Later, Rajput dynasties such as the Chauhans, Chandelas, Paramaras and Solankis dominated the north.
Early invasions from the north-west
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 712 | Muhammad bin Qasim, an Arab general, conquered Sindh |
| c. 1000–1027 | Mahmud of Ghazni made about 17 raids; sacked Somnath in 1025; Alberuni, who came with him, wrote Kitab-ul-Hind |
| 1191 | First Battle of Tarain: Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori |
| 1192 | Second Battle of Tarain: Ghori defeated Prithviraj, opening the way to the Delhi Sultanate |
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