Chapter 18: The Achievements of the Gupta Empire
Essential Question: Why is the period during the Gupta Empire known as a "golden age"?
In this chapter, you learn about the many advances made in ancient India during a golden age under the rule of the Gupta Empire.
The Rise of the Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire arose around 320 C.E. under Chandragupta I. Like the Mauryas, the Guptas created a strong central government, while also giving significant independence to local leaders. This strategy helped create an era of stability and prosperity.India experienced a surge of learning and artistic growth in many areas. Universities The Guptas built many Hindu and Buddhist universities attended by students from the upper classes. Nalanda was the most famous school. Literature Writers created poetry, fables, folktales, and plays. Scholars wrote about law and religion. Great works of Sanskrit literature, including the Puranas and the Mahabharata, were recorded. Some of this work spread beyond India and continues to be influential today. Painting and Sculpture Artists and members of noble families created paintings depicting religious values and noble life. The Ajanta cave murals are among the greatest ancient Indian paintings. Sculptors worked in stone, wood, bronze, and terra-cotta clay. Their work showed Hindu deities, the Buddha, and scenes from important people's lives. Metalwork Skilled metalworkers engraved gold and copper coins. Artisans were famous for their ironwork, including engravings on iron pillars. Mathematics Gupta mathematicians developed a decimal system and were the first to treat zero as a number. One astronomer, named Aryabhata, calculated the length of a year and estimated the size of Earth. We still use their advances today. Roads Engineers designed and built a system of roads that helped improve trade and prosperity. |
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