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Gupta Empire facts for kids

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Gupta Empire and its neighbours

The Gupta Empire was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 AD and covered most of North-central India, Gupta Empire (never included Pakistan); and what is now western India and Bangladesh. The time of the Gupta Empire is referred to as Golden Age of India in science, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy. Historians place the Gupta dynasty alongside with the Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty and Roman Empire as a model of a classical civilization.

Most probably the Guptas came from Bengal. At the beginning of the 4th century the Guptas ruled a few small Hindu kingdoms in Magadha and around modern-day Uttar Pradesh.

We get plenty of information about this dynasty through coins, inscriptions, monuments and Sanskrit writings. The Gupta rulers were great conquerors and good administrators. This brought on economic prosperity which led to cultural expansion. Gupta society was ordered in accordance with Hindu beliefs. This included a strict class system (varna system). A series of invasions weakened the empire, but many of their cultural and intellectual achievements were saved and transmitted to other cultures and live on today.

Gupta dynasty

The Gupta dynasty ruled the Gupta Empire of India, from around 320 to 550.

Some of its main rulers were:

Images for kids

  • Queen Kumaradevi and King Chandragupta I on a coin of their son Samudragupta 350 380 CE

    Queen Kumaradevi and King Chandragupta I, depicted on a gold coin.

  • Standing Buddha Installed by Buddist Monk Yasadinna - Circa 5th Century CE - Jamalpur Mound - ACCN 00-A-5 - Government Museum Mathura Golden background

    Standing Buddha in red sandstone, Art of Mathura, Gupta period circa 5th century CE. Mathura Museum.

  • Vishnu sculpture

    Sculpture of Vishnu (red sandstone), 5th century CE.

  • ChandraguptaIIOnHorse

    An 8 gm gold coin featuring Chandragupta II astride a caparisoned horse with a bow in his left hand.

  • Buddha in Sarnath Museum (Dhammajak Mutra)

    Dharmachakra Pravartana Buddha at Sarnath from the Gupta era, 5th century CE.

  • Sanchi temple 17

    A tetrastyle prostyle Gupta period temple at Sanchi besides the Apsidal hall with Maurya foundation, an example of Buddhist architecture. 5th century CE.

  • Mahabodhitemple

    The current structure of the Mahabodhi Temple dates to the Gupta era, 5th century CE. Marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

  • Deogarh01

    Dashavatara Temple is a Vishnu Hindu temple built during the Gupta period.

  • SFEC BritMus Asia 030

    Buddha from Sarnath, 5–6th century CE

  • Elephanta tourists

    The Colossal trimurti at the Elephanta Caves

  • Ajanta Padmapani

    Painting of Padmapani Cave 1 at Ajanta

  • Mukhalinga

    The Shiva mukhalinga (faced-lingam) from the Bhumara Temple

  • Nalraja fort chilapata

    Nalrajar Garh fortification wall in Chilapata Forests, West Bengal, is one of the last surviving fortification remains from the Gupta period, currently 5–7 m high

  • Nalanda University India ruins

    Nalanda university was first established under Gupta empire

  • Gupt kalin mandir bhitargaon

    Bitargaon temple from the Gupta period provide one of the earliest examples of pointed arches anywhere in the world

  • Ajanta-3-aurangabad

    Ajanta caves from Gupta era

  • MET DT5237 (cropped)

    Krishna fighting the horse demon Keshi, 5th century

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Imperio Gupta para niños

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