1. The Gupta Empire 320-550 AD

2. Key Players (members of the Vaishya caste) Ghatokacha Chandra Gupta I Samudra Gupta the Great Chandra Gupta II the Great Skandagupta

3. The marriage that started it all… Chandragupta (I) married to a princess– the marriage gave him possession of her kingdom, (Lichchhavi). Once he had that he was able to conquer other areas, thus expanding his domain. 319-335(reigned)

4. Samudragupta= Warrior 335-380 (reigned) Samudragupta –Chandragupta’s son Increased empire by 20 kingdoms “King of Kings” “World Monarch” fun fact: liked to let his horses roam (more on that in a moment) fun fact: liked to let his horses roam (more on that in a moment)

5. Samudragupta Patron of the arts Hindu, but considerate of others Spreads the empire down Indian Peninsula

6. Chandragupta II 380-413 (reigned) Hindu art LiteratureCultureScience Supportive of religion

7. Look To This Day Look to this day: For it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course Lie all the verities and realities of your existence. The bliss of growth, The glory of action, The splendour of achievement Are but experiences of time

8. For yesterday is but a dream And tomorrow is only a vision; And today well-lived, makes Yesterday a dream of happiness And every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day; Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn! Kalidasa

9. “Golden Age of India” Peace & Prosperity Allowed people to really focus on learning and inventing

10. Math Numerals Base ten DecimalsZeroChess Formula for area of a triangle (changed architecture)

11. Science Earth revolves around sun Medicine and surgery Round earth– with and axis Sunlight causes planetary shine Calculated the solar year

12. Architecture Hindu temples Buddhist stupas

13. Politics Loose centralized Mild punishments Taxes

14. Art Frescoes Cave shrines SculpturesLiteratureDance Music Music

15. War Use of archers ElephantsChariotsNavy

16. Skandagupta 455- Grandson of Chandragupta II Holds off the Huns Empire declines (money drained by wars) Dies and is succeeded by weak rulers

17. Internal Problems Disputes about succession Smaller lords gained control and were declaring independence (taxes stopped coming in)

18. External Problems Invasion of the Huns 500 AD Lack of money to fight effectively Gupta Empire separates into kingdoms Remains that way for the next 400-500 yrs.

20. Further reading http://apworldhistory101.com/history-of- india/gupta/ http://apworldhistory101.com/history-of- india/gupta/ http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/History /prelims/gupta-age5.html http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/History /prelims/gupta-age5.html