The Gupta Empire

Front

What period followed the collapse of the Mauryan Empire in India?

Back

180 BCE-320CE: An era of chaos.

Front

Who established the new empire around c.319?

Back

Chandragupta I, a minor noble who married into a clan supposedly descended from Siddhartha.

Front

What was Samudragupta known for during his reign?

Back

Expanding the Empire by conquering rival kingdoms.

Front

What achievements are attributed to Chandragupta II?

Back

Expanded the Empire to its furthest reach and established a Golden Age with investments in the arts and sciences.

Front

Who was Kalidasa?

Back

Chandragupta II's court writer and poet, considered one of the greatest poets in Indian history.

Front

What are the Udayagiri Caves known for?

Back

20 rock cut caves in Central India depicting stories of the Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva, some of the oldest surviving Hindu temples.

Front

What do the Ajanta Caves depict?

Back

30 rock cut caves in western India depicting images of Buddhism, demonstrating tolerance for both Hinduism and Buddhism during the Gupta Empire.

Front

Who were Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta?

Back

Two of the most important figures in the history of mathematics during the Gupta Empire.

Front

What mathematical contributions are attributed to Gupta mathematicians?

Back

Concept of zero, approximation of pi, advances in trigonometry, use of negative numbers, use of decimal points, and the first calculation of the Earth's circumference.