The Gupta Era An Age of Tireless Creativity Class 7 Notes

The Gupta Era An Age of Tireless Creativity Class 7 Notes

The Gupta Era An Age of Tireless Creativity Class 7 Notes

1. Codified: Arranged or written in an organised and systematic way.

2. Ayurveda: An ancient Indian system of medicine that emphasises holistic healing and the connection between mind, body, and nature.

3. Faxian: A Chinese traveller and monk who visited India in the early 5th century CE, documenting his observations of Indian society, culture, and governance in his travelogue.

4. Vaishya: One of the four varnas (social classes) in ancient India, primarily associated with commerce and trade. Faxian noted the charitable activities of Vaishya families during the Gupta era.

5. Charaka Samhita: An ancient Indian text on medicine and surgery that is one of the foundational texts of ayurveda, compiled during the Gupta period.

6. Sushruta Samhita: Another foundational text of Ayurveda, attributed to the ancient physician Sushruta, which focuses on surgical techniques and medical practices.

7. Regent Ruler: A regent temporarily governs a kingdom for a monarch unable to do so until they can.

8. Patronage: Support given by rulers or wealthy individuals to artists, scholars, and craftsmen, which was a key factor in the cultural and artistic achievements of the Gupta era.

9. Outcastes: Someone who has been rejected from a social or cultural group; in this case, a category of people considered socially too low to be part of the varna system.

10. The Gupta Era

1. In modern day Uttar PradeshBihar established by Sri Gupta
2. Era of creativity and wisdom (as said by Kalidasa)
3. Known as 'classical age' for art, literature, science etc.
4. Capital Pataliputra (modern-day Patna)
5. Contemporary Kingdoms Pallava, Kamarupa, Vakataka - Iron Pillar (Delhi) -Chandragupta-II, King's achievements

11. Major Kings

Samudragupta

1. Son of Chandragupta-1
2. Wanted to unify the earth
3. Expanded empires, defeated many kings, made them tributaries
4. Harisena (Court poet) says Samudragupta supported art. learning and trade
5. A musician (playing veena, shown on coin)
6. Performed Ashvamedha Yajna
7. Known as 'warrior king' (as per Prayaga Prashasti)

12. Chandragupta-II

1. Also known as Vikramaditya
2. Raised Iron Pillar in Delhi
3. Devotec of Vishnu
4. Son of Samudragupta
5. Followed by Prabhavati Gupta (daughter), a Vakataka queen
6. Prabhavati - follower of Vishnu - made many temples
7. She is known as mother of two kings
8. Her sons became Vakataka rulers
9. Chandragupta's court had many poets, scholars

13. Extent

1. Detailed in Vishnu Purana
2. Major areas - Anuganga, Prayaga, Saketa, Magadha
3. Mostly north and west India, parts of central and east India
4. Made Vakataka allies (Strategic alliance, marriage alliance)
5. Defeated Pallavas

14. Traveller's and Historical Accounts

Traveller's Accounts

1. Faxian (Chinese traveller) explored Buddhist sites
2. Household registration not needed
3. Farmers gave grains (as tax) to the king
4. King's guards were paid salaries
5. Prosperous cities, charitable houses, medical care for people

15. Historical Accounts

1. Social inequality, harsh treatment to outcastes
2. Rulers adopted grand titles to assert authority
3. Expansion strategy - Conquest and alliance Decline (6th century BCE)

16. Factors

1. Invasion by Huna (Tribes of Central Asia)
2. Internal conflicts
3. Rise of regional powers like Kamarupa (northeast India), Pallavas (south India)

17. Pallavas

1. Kingdom of South (Tamil Nadu, Karnakata, Telangana. Andhra Pradesh)
2. Capital - Kanchipuram (City of a thousand temples)
3. Patron of art-architecture
4. Made temples and rock-cut caves

18. Kamarupa Kingdom

1. Ruled by Varman dynasty
2. In the Brahmaputra valley (modern-day Assam) (northeast)
3. Cultural and political centre

19. Administration and Trade

1. States divided into provinces
2. Land grants for local rulers, priests and chieftains
3. Copper plate - for recording tax and grants
4. Revenue source - tax, fine, taxes on mines, irrigation, trade, crafts
5. Trade with - Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, China
6. Export items - Textiles, gemstones, spices, ivory

20. Classical age

1. Due to cultural and intellectual achievements
2. Sanskrit literature, mathematics, astronomy, medical, metallurgy

21. Aryabhatta

1. Wrote Aryabhatiya
2. Calculation of celestial motion, earth's rotation
3. Calculation of length of year, lunar eclipse

22. Varahamihira

1. Wrote Brihat Samhita
2. Astronomy, architecture, farming

23. Kalidasa

1. Sanskrit literature and poetry
2. Meghadutam: Emotional, natural and geographical detail

24. Ayurveda

1. Ancient Indian medicine systemaimed at holistic healing
2. Codified during the Guptas
3. Medical books: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita
4. Deals with: diagnosis, treatment, diet, medicine, surgery

25. Art

1. Depicts high standards of beauty and aesthetics
2. Sarnath - Buddha sculpture
3. Ajanta Caves -- Rock-cut architecture and carving with Central Stupa (both Gupta and Vakataka)
4. Sculpture showed rivers like Ganga and Yamuna
5. Ganga (shown with makara), Yamuna (shown with tortoise)
6. Paintings - Bodhisattva Padmapani
7. Udayagiri Caves (M.P.), ArjunaKarna Battle (from Mahabharata)

26. Important Cultural-Political Centres

1. Kamarupa (Brahmaputra valley) - temples/monasteries learning hubs
2. Prayaga Prashasti mentions Pallavas and Kamarupa Samudragupta defeated Pallava and Kamarupa rulers

27. 240 CE - Establishment of the Gupta Empire by Maharaja Sri Gupta. This marks the beginning of a new dynasty that would lead to a golden age in India.

28. 320 CE - Chandragupta I ascends to the throne. He is known for consolidating power and expanding the empire through military conquests and strategic marriages.

29. 335-375 CE - Samudragupta known as the "Napoleon of India," he expands the Gupta Empire through military conquests and diplomacy. He is also a patron of arts and culture.

30. 400 CE - Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) consolidates the empire further, promotes trade, and is known for his patronage of arts and literature, including the works of Kalidasa.

31. 415 CE - Prabhavati Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II, becomes a regent ruler of the Vakâtaka kingdom and strengthens ties between the Guptas and Vakatakas.

32. 4th Century - Kalidasa, a renowned poet and playwright, he produces masterpieces like "Abhigyan Shakuntalam" and "Meghadutam," reflecting the cultural richness of the era.

33. 5th Century - Aryabhata, a prominent mathematician and astronomer, he introduces concepts such as the approximation of 'π' and the place value system.

34. 5th Century - Varahamihira, a notable astronomer and astrologer, he contributes to the fields of mathematics and astrology, authoring texts like 'Brihat Samhita'.

35. 3th-5th Century - Vakatakas, a contemporary dynasty to the Guptas, they are known for their patronage of art and architecture, including rockcut caves and temples.

36. 3th-6th Century - Pallavas, a powerful dynasty in the south, they are known for their architectural achievements and temples, and they interactwith the Gupta Empire through trade and cultural exchange.

37. 6th Century - The empire begins to show signs of decline due to external invasions by the Hüna tribe and internal conflicts with rising regional powers.