Gupta Empire

The **Gupta Empire** was an Indian empire which lasted from around 320 to 550 AD. It managed to unify large parts of the Indian subcontinent. The time of the Gupta Empire is traditionally referred to as India's Golden age.

Plenty of information about this dynasty can be found through coins, inscriptions, monuments, and Sanskrit writings. The Gupta rulers were great conquerors and administrators. Eventually, provincial revolts and invaders from Central Asia weakened broke up the empire, but many of their cultural and intellectual achievements were saved and transmitted to other cultures and live on today. Fa Hien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II and stayed in this country for several years.

People lived a simple life. Goods were affordable and all round prosperity ensured that their requirements were met easily. Gold and silver coins were issued in great numbers which is a general indicative of the health of the economy. Trade and commerce flourished both within the country and outside. Silk, cotton, spices, medicine, priceless gemstones, pearl, precious metal and steel were exported by sea.

## Gupta dynasty

The **Gupta dynasty** lasted from around 240 to 579.

Some of its main rulers were:
- Chandragupta
- Samudragupta
- Ramagupta
- Chandragupta II
- Kumaragupta I
- Skandagupta
- Purugupta
- Kumaragupta II
- Budhagupta
- Narsimhagupta
- Vishnugupta

## Administration

The Gupta Empire was divided into 26 provinces. These were called _Bhukti_, _Desha_, or _Rajya_. Each province had smaller parts called _Vishaya_ (districts), ruled by officers called _Vishayapati_. The _Vishayapati_ was helped by a local council called the _Adhikarana_. This council had four members: the head of the city, a trade leader, a top artisan, and a government writer. A smaller area inside a district was called a _Vithi_.

The Gupta Empire had trade links with the Sassanids and Byzantines. The social system followed four main caste system (_varna system_). The Guptas used many different gold and silver coinages across their empire. This showed their wealth. Some were also trying to unify the empire by using the same coins over the empire.

## Further reading

- Karls, Farah. _World History The Human Experience_.

## Other websites

- Frontline Article on Gupta Period Art

## Infobox (former country)

- **conventional long name**: Gupta Empire
- **common name**: Gupta Empire (Dynasty)
- **image flag**: Garuda emblem.png
- **flag type**: _Garudadhvaja_
(standard)
- **era**: Classical India
- **status**: Empire
- **p1**: Western Satraps
- **p2**: Nagas of Padmavati
- **p3**: Pañcāla
- **p4**: Arjunayanas
- **p5**: Yaudheya
- **p6**: Mahameghavahana dynasty
- **p7**: Murunda dynasty
- **p8**: Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom
- **s1**: Later Guptas
- **s2**: Kingdom of Valabhi
- **s3**: Vardhana dynastyKingdom of Thanesar
- **s4**: GurjaradesaGurjara kingdoms
- **s5**: Aulikaras
- **s6**: Maukhari Dynasty
- **image map**: File:Gupta Empire at peak.jpg
- **image map caption**: Gupta empire at its peak
- **common languages**: Sanskrit (literary and academic); Prakrit (vernacular)
- **government type**: Monarchy
- **currency**: Dinara (gold coins)
Rupaka (silver coins)
Karshapana (copper coins)
Cowries
- **title leader**: _List of Gupta emperors, Maharajadhiraja_
- **leader1**: Gupta (King), Gupta (first)
- **leader8**: Vishnugupta (last)
- **stat year1**: 400 est.
- **stat area1**: 3500000
- **ref area1**: (high-end estimate of peak area)
- **stat year2**: 440 est.
- **stat area2**: 1700000
- **ref area2**: (low-end estimate of peak area)
- **stat pop3**: 75,000,000
- **stat year3**: 5th century