Ancient

India-
Mauryan to
Gupta empire
 Map
Mauryan empire, in ancient India, a state
centred at Pataliputra (later Patna) near the
junction of the Son and Ganges (Ganga)
rivers. It lasted from about 321 to 185 bce
and was the first empire to encompass most
of the Indian subcontinent.
 Mauryan empire[c. 324 – 187
BCE]

The Mauryan dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Maurya (324/321- 297 BCE) who
conquered almost the whole of the north, the north-west and a large region of Peninsular India.
The Buddhist text speaks of the existence of a Kshatriya clan called Mauryas living in the region
of Gorakhpur adjoining Nepalese terrain. But Brahmanical sources consider Mauryas as Shudras.
The family has also been believed to be associated with the Nandas, according to Vishnu
Purana, Chandragupta Maurya was the eldest son of Maurya, son of the Nanda king
Sarvarthasiddhi, by Mura – daughter of a hunter.
 Bindusara (297 – 273 BCE)

Also known as Amitrochates (destroyer of foes) by the Greek scholars while the Mahabhasya
refers to him as Amitraghata (killer of enemies). The Ajivika sect mentions a fortune-teller who
prophesied to Bindusara about his son Ashoka’s future greatness.
Bindusara conquered the land between the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal. The Tibetan
monk who wrote a 17th-century history of Buddhism, Taranatha, states that one of Binduasara’s
lords, Chanakya, destroyed the nobles and kings of 16 towns and made him master of all the
territory between the eastern and western seas.
As per the Greek source, he had diplomatic ties with western kings. According to Strabo,
Antiochus (Syrian king) sent Deimachus as an ambassador to Bindusara’s court.
It is believed that Bindusara joined the Ajivika sect.
Under his rule, almost the entire subcontinent (as far as Karnataka) was under the Mauryan
empire
 Ashoka (268 – 232 BCE)
There was a four-year succession conflict after the death of Bindusara in 273 BCE. Bindusara
wanted his son Susima to succeed him. With the help of a minister named Radhagupta and after
killing 99 brothers, Ashoka (son of Bindusara) acquired the throne. Ashoka had been the Viceroy
of Taxila and Ujjain (cities that mainly handled commercial activities) during the reign of
Bindusara.
Ashoka was one of the greatest kings of all times, and is regarded as the first ruler to maintain
direct contact with his people through his inscriptions. The other names of the emperor include
Buddhashakya (in the Maski edict), Dharmasoka (Sarnath inscription), Devanampiya (meaning
beloved of the gods) and Piyadassi (meaning of pleasing appearance) given in the Sri Lankan
Buddhist chronicles Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa.
The Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa give a detailed account of his queens. He was married to
Mahadevi (daughter of a merchant of Vidisha) who was the mother of Mahendra and
Sanghamitra, the celebrated children of Ashoka who helped in the propagation of Buddhism. The
Buddhist texts also mention queens Asandhimitta, Padmavati, Tissarakhita (who tried to cut the
Bodhi tree) and Karuvaki (the only queen to be mentioned in the queen’s edict, where she is
described as the mother of prince Tivara, the only son of Ashoka to be mentioned by name in
inscriptions).
 During Ashoka’s reign, the Mauryan empire covered the whole territory from Hindukush to
Bengal, and extended over Afghanistan, Baluchistan and the whole of India including Kashmir
and the valleys of Nepal, except a small portion in the far south, which was occupied by
Cholas and Pandyas according to the rock edict 13 and by Keralaputras and Satyaputras as
per the rock edict 2.
He developed diplomatic relations with his contemporaries in Syria, Egypt, Macedonia,
Cyrenaica (Libya) and Alexander of Epirus, all these are mentioned in the Edicts of Ashoka.
Ashoka was a great proponent of Buddhism. He converted to Buddhism and during his reign,
Buddhism went outside India. His children Mahendra (son) and Sanghamitra (daughter) were
sent to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) to propagate Buddhism.
Ashoka appointed Dharma Mahamattas to propagate dharma among various social groups
including women (in the 14th year of his reign).
During his second Dharmayatra tour (in the 21st year of his reign), he visited Lumbini, the
birthplace of Buddha.
He banned animal sacrifice, regulated the slaughter of animals for food and established
dharmashalas, hospitals and sarais throughout his kingdom.
 How did mauryan empire fall

The Maurya Empire fell due to weak successors, vastness of the empire,
independence of the provinces, foreign invasion, and internal revolt. After
Ashoka’s death, the empire shrank because of invasions, defections by
southern princes, and quarrels over ascension. The last ruler, Brihadratha,
was killed in 185 BCE by his Brahman commander in chief, Pushyamitra, who
then founded the Shunga dynasty, which ruled in central India for about a
century. The Maurya Empire began to decline after the death of Ashoka in
232 BC.
 Gupta empire
After the decline of Mauryan, Around 320 and 550 CE. The Gupta Empire
stretched across northern, central and parts of southern India. The period is
noted for its achievements in the arts, architecture , sciences, religion , and
philosophy . Chandragupta I (320 – 335 CE) started a rapid expansion of the
Gupta Empire and soon established himself as the first sovereign ruler of the
empire. It marked the end of 500 hundred years of domination of the provincial
powers and resulting disquiet that began with the fall of the Mauryas. Even
more importantly, it began a period of overall prosperity and growth that
continued for the next two and half centuries which came to be known as a
“Golden Age” in India' s history. But the seed of the empire was sown at least
two generations earlier than this when Srigupta, then only a regional monarch,
set off the glory days of this mighty dynasty in circa 240 CE.
 Gupta Empire – Samudragupta (c. 335/336 – 375 CE)

The Gupta kingdom was enlarged enormously by Chandragupta Ⅰ ’s son and successor Samudragupta.
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayaga – Prashasti) gives a detailed account of his achievements. He
followed the policy of war and conquest. This long inscription was composed by his court poet, Harisena,
in chaste Sanskrit. The inscription is engraved on the same pillar that carries the inscription of peace-
loving Ashoka.
Much of the Indian subcontinent was directly or indirectly under his control – from kingdoms in Nepal and
Punjab in the north to the Pallava kingdom at Kanchipuram in the southeast. The last vestiges of the
Kushana rule, like the Shakas , the Murundas and even the independent territory of Simhala (Sri Lanka)
acknowledged his suzerainty. The places and the territories conquered by Samudragupta can be divided
into five groups:
Group Ⅰ – Includes rulers of Ganga-Yamuna doab, who were defeated. He uprooted nine Naga rulers
and annexed their territories.
Group Ⅱ – Includes rulers of the eastern Himalayan states and some frontier states such as the
princes of Nepal, Assam, Bengal, etc. who surrendered to his might. It also includes parts of Punjab.
 Group Ⅲ – I n c l u d e s t h e f o r e s t k i n g d o m s i t u a t e d i n t h e V i n d h y a r e g i o n ( c e n t ra l In d i a ) kn o w n a s a t a v i ka
r a j y a s a n d f o r c e d t h e i r r u l e r s i n t o s e r v i t u d e . T h e c o n q u e s t o f t h i s re g i o n h e lp e d h i m t o m o v e t o w a rd s t h e
south.
Group Ⅳ – I n c l u d e s t w e l v e r u l e r s o f e a s te r n D e c c a n a n d s o u t h In d i a w h o w e re d e f e a t e d a n d h i s p o w e r
r e a c h e d a s f a r a s K a n c h i ( T a m i l N a d u ) , w h e r e t h e P a lla v a s w e re f o rc e d t o re c o g n i s e h i s s u z e ra i n t y . It i s
i m p o r t a n t t o m e n t i o n t h a t V i r a s e n a w a s t h e c o m m a n d e r o f S a m u d ra g u p t a d u ri n g h i s s o u t h e rn c a m p a i g n . In
t h e s o u t h , h e a d o p t e d t h e p o l i c y o f p o li t i c a l c o n c i li a t i o n a n d re i n s t a t e d t h e d e f e a t e d ki n g s o n t h e i r
t h r o n e s . T h e s e s t a t e s a c k n o w l e d g e d h i s s u z e r a i n t y a n d p a i d h i m t ri b u t e s a n d p re s e n t s .
Group Ⅴ – I n c l u d e s t h e S h a k a s o f w e s t e r n In d i a a n d K u s h a n a r u le r s o f n o rt h - w e s t In d i a a n d A f g h a n i s t a n .
Samudragupta swept them out of power.
T h o u g h h e h a d s p r e a d h i s i n f l u e n c e o v e r a v a s t a r e a , a n d e v e n re c e i v e d t ri b u t e s f ro m m a n y ki n g s o f s o u t h -
e a s t A s i a , S a m u d r a g u p t a e x e r c i s e d d i r e c t a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o n t ro l m a i n ly o v e r t h e In d o - G a n g e t i c b a s i n .
A c c o r d i n g t o C h i n e s e s o u r c e s , M e g h a v a r m a n , t h e r u le r o f S r i La n ka , s e n t a m i s s i o n a ry t o Sa m u d ra g u p t a f o r
p e r m i s s i o n t o b u i l d a B u d d h i s t t e m p le a t B o d h G a y a .
A f t e r c o n q u e r i n g t h e t e r r i t o r i e s , S a m u d r a g u p t a c e le b r a t e d b y p e rf o rm i n g t h e a s v a m e d h a ( h o rs e s a c ri f i c e ) . H e
i s s u e d c o i n s w i t h t h e l e g e n d “ r e s t o r e r o f t h e a s v a m e d h a ” . It i s b e c a u s e o f h i s m i li t a ry a c h i e v e m e n t s t h a t
S a m u d r a g u p t a w a s h a i l e d a s t h e ‘ In d i a n N a p o le o n ’ .
 He was equally great in his personal accomplishments. The Allahabad Pillar
Inscription speaks of his magnanimity to his foes, his polished intellect, his poetic
skills, and his proficiency in music. He is known by the title Kaviraja (king among
poets) because of his ability in composing verses. His image depicting him with
veena (lyre) is found in the coins issued by him. He is also credited with
promoting Sanskrit literature and learning, characteristic of his dynasty.
He was an ardent follower of Vaishnavism but was tolerant of other religions. He
showed a keen interest in Buddhism and was the patron of the great Buddhist
scholar Vasubandhu.
Legends on his coins include epithets such as Apratirathah (invincible), Vyaghra-
Parakramah (brave as a tiger), Parakramah (brave).
 Gupta Empire – Chandragupta II (c. 376 – 413/415 CE)
Samudragupta was succeeded by his son – Chandragupta Ⅱ . But according to some scholars, the
immediate successor was Ramagupta, the elder brother of Chandragupta Ⅱ . But there is little
historical proof for this.
During Chandragupta Ⅱ ’s reign, the Gupta dynasty reached its peak by expanding territories through
conquests as well as by marriage alliances. He married Kuberananga, a Naga princess and had a
daughter, Prabhavati with her. He married Prabhavati to a Vakataka prince, Rudrasena Ⅱ (Deccan).
After the death of her husband, Prabhavati ruled the territory as regent to her minor sons with the
help of her father. Thus Chandragupta Ⅱ indirectly controlled the Vakataka kingdom.
Chandragupta Ⅱ ’s control over the Vakataka kingdom in central India proved quite advantageous for
him. It helped him to conquer Gujarat and western Malwa, which was under the rule of Shakas for
about four centuries by that time. The Guptas reached the western sea coast which was famous for
trade and commerce. This contributed to the prosperity of Malwa and its main city Ujjain, which was
also Chandragupta Ⅱ ’s second capital.
 Kumaragupta Ⅰ (c. 415 – 455 CE)
Kumaragupta Ⅰ was the son and successor of Chandragupta Ⅱ .
Adopted the titles of ‘Shakraditya’ and ‘Mahendraditya’.
Performed ‘asvamedha’ sacrifices.
Most importantly, he laid the foundation of Nalanda University which emerged as
an institution of international reputation.
At the end of his reign, peace did not prevail on the north-west frontier due to the
invasion of the Huns of Central Asia. After occupying Bactria, the Huns crossed the
Hindukush mountains, occupied Gandhara and entered India. Their first attack,
during Kumaragupta Ⅰ ’s reign, was made unsuccessful by prince Skandagupta.
The inscriptions of Kumaragupta Ⅰ ’s reign are – Karandanda, Mandsor, Bilsad
inscription (oldest record of his reign) and Damodar Copper Plate inscription.
 Skandagupta (c. 455 – 467 CE)
Adopted the title ‘Vikramaditya’.
Junagarh/Girnar inscription of his reign reveals that his
governor Parnadatta repaired the Sudarshan lake.
After Skandagupta’s death, many of his successors like
Purugupta, Kumaragupta Ⅱ , Buddhagupta, Narasimhagupta,
Kumaragupta Ⅲ and Vishnugupta could not save the Gupta
empire from the Huns. Ultimately, the Gupta power totally
disappeared due to a variety of reasons.
 Decline of Gupta Empire
The various reasons that led to the fall of the Gupta empire are discussed below:
Hun Invasion
The Gupta prince Skandagupta fought bravely and successfully against the early Huns’ invasion.
However, his successors proved to be weak and could not check the Huns’ invasion. The Huns
showed excellent horsemanship and were expert archers which helped them to attain success,
not only in Iran but also in India. In the latter half of the 5th century, the Hun chief Toramana
conquered large parts of western India, up to Eran near Bhopal in central India. By 485 CE, Huns
had occupied Punjab, Rajasthan, Kashmir, eastern Malwa and a large part of central India.
Toramana (in 515 CE) was succeeded by his son Mihirkula, who was a tyrant ruler as is mentioned
in the Rajatarangini by Kalhana and Hieun-Tsang refers to him as a persecutor of Buddhists.
Mihirkula was defeated and the Huna power was overthrown by Yashodharman of Malwa,
Narasimha Gupta Baladitya of the Gupta empire and the Maukharis. However, this win over Huns
could not revive the Gupta empire.