The Golden Age in India from 320-550 CE saw the rise of the powerful Gupta Empire. Key events included Chandragupta unifying northern India in the 4th century BCE and the conversion of Emperor Ashoka to Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE after a bloody battle, leading him to dedicate his life to nonviolence and spreading Buddhist teachings. The Gupta Empire reached its peak under Emperor Chandragupta II in the 4th-5th centuries CE, when it saw advances in areas like mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and literature alongside extensive trade networks and beautiful art flourishing under the religious tolerance of the Guptas.

1. Golden Age in India 320-550 C.E.

2. ChandraguptaChandragupta:: 321 BCE-298321 BCE-298
BCEBCE
 Unified northern India.Unified northern India.
 Defeated the PersianDefeated the Persian
generalgeneral SeleucusSeleucus..
 Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into
provinces, then districtsprovinces, then districts
for tax assessments and lawfor tax assessments and law
enforcement.enforcement.
 He feared assassinationHe feared assassination
301 BCE301 BCE  gave up his throne & becamegave up his throne & became
a Jain.a Jain.

3. The Maurya EmpireThe Maurya Empire
321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE

4. • Cakravartin or “Wheel Turner.” Circuit of
conquest like the sun.
• Conquered more than 20 kingdoms. But
re-instated his defeated enemies as
tributary kings. Skilled statesman.
• Built army and even navy.
• Devout Hindu worshipper of Vishnu.
Revived ancient Vedic rites such as Horse
Sacrifice.
• Yet tolerant of Buddhism
• Wealth “rightfully acquired.” Not
oppressive.
• Great patron of literature and arts.
Revived Sanskrit as sacred language.

5. • Built coast-to coast empire.
• Emphasized alliances and strategic marriages.
• Created new Western capital, Ujjain
• Master of compromise in politics, diplomacy,
religion.
• Tolerance of Buddhism and Jainism.
• Built monasteries and gave government posts
to religious minorities.
• Built efficient bureaucracy.
• Chinese pilgrims report
absence of corporal punishment, poll or land
taxes.
Fixed salaries for soldiers.

6. Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II

7. Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)
 Religious conversionReligious conversion
after the gruesomeafter the gruesome
battle ofbattle of KalingaKalinga inin
262 BCE.262 BCE.
 Dedicated his life toDedicated his life to
Buddhism.Buddhism.
 Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads.
 ConflictConflict  how to balance Kautilya’show to balance Kautilya’s
methods of keeping powermethods of keeping power
and Buddha’s demands toand Buddha’s demands to
become a selfless person?become a selfless person?

8. Asoka’sAsoka’s
EmpireEmpire

9. International TradeInternational Trade
Routes during the GuptasRoutes during the Guptas

10. Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:
4c4c
spices
spices
spicesspices
gold & ivory
gold & ivory gold & ivorygold & ivory
rice & wheat
rice & wheathorseshorses
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goodssilks
silks

11. MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature
MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematics
AstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy
PrintedPrinted
medicinal guidesmedicinal guides
1000 diseases1000 diseases
classifiedclassified
PlasticPlastic
SurgerySurgery
C-sectionsC-sections
performedperformed
InoculationsInoculations
500 healing500 healing
plants identifiedplants identified
DecimalDecimal
SystemSystem
ConceptConcept
of Zeroof Zero
PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416
KalidasaKalidasa
SolarSolar
CalendarCalendar
The earthThe earth
is roundis round
GuptaGupta
IndiaIndia
GuptaGupta
AchievementsAchievements

12. Gupta kings empower merchant vaisya caste
Elaborate coinage system developed.
Trade expands. Flourishing trade with Rome, China, Arabian
world.
In many cities marketplaces surge.
BUT still essentially an agricultural economy
Feudal pattern begins as kings make land grants to
Brahmins. After Gupta period, these land grants are
increasingly made to Kshatriya or warrior caste.
Advances in agriculture: iron permits clearing of Ganges
River valley for farming.

13. Translation of works of Greek astronomy into Sanskrit. By 499 past,
future planet locations calculated accurately, solar year measured.
Geography: world longitudes redrawn, beginning in Ujjain instead of
Alexandria.
Math: World’s first effective treatises on square and cubed roots.
Numeral and decimal system developed which spread eventually to
Europe.
Philosophy: Formal logic developed. Use of syllogism.
Medicine: Free hospitals provided. Advances in bone-setting and
pharmacy soon adopted by Arabs and Greeks.
Great universities of Nalanda and Vikramasila established, receive
influx of students from all the world.

14. GuptaGupta
ArtArt
Greatly influencedGreatly influenced
Southeast Asian art & architecture.Southeast Asian art & architecture.

15. • Characterized by “a turning
inward, an ability to
communicate higher
spiritual states…”
• Most famous paintings are
from Ajanta Caves.
Supported by a kingdom
aligned with the Guptas
through marriage, usually
understood as part of Gupta
legacy.
• Tolerance led to flowering of Buddhist Art under Gupta
Dynasty.
• Distinctive Gupta Buddhist style. Figures were elongated,
idealized. Faces had distant, meditative gazes.
• Expressed ideals of restraint, discipline, harmony.

16. Some caves seem influenced by Therevada Buddhist
prohibition on representing the Buddha. Above is
from a series of didactic paintings based on the
Jataka.
Later caves trace transition to Mahayana Buddhism.
29 Caves in horseshoe shaped rock ravine
Oldest caves may date to 2nd
Century B.C.E,
while other caves made as late as 7th
Century
C.E.. Most made in 5th
and 6th
Centuries.
Sponsored by Gupta- allied Vakataka Dynasty.

17. Originally the Buddha’s burial
mound. Function was
remembrance  simple clay mound
Gradually becomes site of worship
 more elaborate form, with
spires, gates, walkways and
sculpture
Guptas renovate and elaborate
upon stupas from Ashoka’s age.

18. Photo gallery