The Gupta Age
The greatest empire in the fourth century AD
was the Gupta empire, which ushered in the golden
age of Indian history. This empire lasted for
more than two centuries. It covered a large part
of the Indian subcontinent, but its
administration was more decentralised than that
of the Mauryas. Alternately waging war and
entering into matrimonial alliances with the
smaller kingdoms in its neighbourhood, the
empire's boundaries kept fluctuating with each
ruler.
The Gupta rulers patronised the Hindu
religious tradition and orthodox Hinduism
reasserted itself in this era. However, this
period also saw the peaceful coexistence of
Brahmins and Buddhists and visits by Chinese
travellers like Fa Hien. The exquisite Ajanta and
Ellora caves were created in this period.
This era saw the emergence of the classical
art forms and development of various aspects of
Indian culture and civilisation. Erudite
treatises were written on a multiplicity of
subjects ranging from grammar, mathematics,
astronomy and medicine, to the Kamasutra, the
famous treatise on the art of love. This age
registered considerable progress in literature
and science, particularly in astronomy and
mathematics. The most outstanding literary figure
of the Gupta period was Kalidasa whose choice of
words and imagery brought Sanskrit drama to new
heights. Aryabhatta, who lived during this age,
was the first Indian who made a significant
contribution to astronomy.
The invasions of the White Huns signalled the
end of this era of history, although at first,
they were defeated by the Guptas. After the
decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke
into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was
not really unified again until the coming of the
Muslims.
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