Political Development

राजनीतिक तिकास
• Many new kingdoms arose after the

fall of Mauryan Empire.

 Topics To be Discussed

Gupta Dynasty गुप्ि िंश

Vardhana Dynasty िर्धन िंश

 Introduction
• The Gupta dynasty (गुप्त वंश), arose in Magadh during the

AD 4th century.

• They established a large kingdom over the greater part of

Northern India.

•
 What is Golden Age ( )?
• In India rapid development took place in the field of art, architecture literature, philosophy, trade,

science, and agriculture during this time.

• Therefore, Gupta age (between 320 - 540 AD) is referred to as the "classical age" or "golden

age" of ancient India.

•
 Gupta Dynasty (गुप्त वंश)
• The Gupta dynasty was founded by Srigupta (श्रीगुप्ि) in the AD 3rd

century.

• Chandragupta I (चन्द्रगुप्त प्रथम) was the first Independent ruler of the

Gupta dynasty.

• He adopted the grand title of 'Maharaja Adhiraja’ (महाराजाधर्राज).

• After Chandragupta, his son Samudragupta became the ruler of

Gupta Empire. He also adopted the grand title of 'Maharaja Adhiraja'.

 GUPTA DYNASTY RULERS

First Independent Chandragupta I AD 320-335

Ruler
‘Napoleon of India’ Samudragupta AD 335-380

Chandragupta II AD 380-413

Kumargupta AD 413-455

Skandagupta AD 455-467
 Samudragupta (समुरगुप्त)
• The greatest king of Gupta Dynasty.

• He ruled Gupta dynasty from 335 to 380 AD.

• He always believed in policy of war and conquests.

• (िह हमेशा युद्ध और तिजय की नीति में तिश्वास करिा था)

• Hence he was known as Napolean of India. (भारि का नेपोलियन)

 Samudragupta’s Prashasti
समुद्रगुप्ि की प्रशस्ति
• Samudragupta's inscription (अभभिेख) is of a special kind, known as Prashasti (प्रशस्तत)

• Prashasti is a Sanskrit word meaning 'praise’ (प्रशंसा).

• It was composed by his court poet (दरबारी कति) Harisena (हरिषेण) around 1700 years ago.

• The Prashasti was composed in very long sentences.

 • Samudragupta’s Prashasti
• In Prashasti, the poet praised the king in terms as:

• A warrior (एक योद्धा),

• A king who won victories in battles (एक राजा जजसने कई युद्ध जीिे),

• The best of poets (महान कति),

• He is also described as equal to the Gods (भगिान के समिुल्य).

• This description tells us about the king and also about how kings fought wars in those

days.
 • Samudragupta’s Prashasti
• Harisena (हररषेण) describes four different kinds of rulers and tells us about

Samudraguptas policies towards them.

 • Samudragupta’s Prashasti

1. The Rulers of Aryavarta (आर्ाावता) were nine

rulers who were uprooted and their kingdoms

were made a part of Samudragupta's empire.

 • Samudragupta’s Prashasti
2. The Ruler of Dakshinapatha were

twelve rulers. They surrendered to

Samudragupta after being defeated and

then he allowed them to rule again.

 • Samudragupta’s Prashasti
3. The inner circle of neighbouring states (पड़ोसी

दे शो का आंिररक घेरा), including Assam, coastal

Bengal, Nepal and a number of Gana

Sanghas (गण संघ) in the North-West.

• They brought tribute, followed his orders and

attended his court.

• (िे समुद्रगुप्ि के दरबार मे नज़राना िािे थे और उसके

आदे शो का पािन करिे थे)

 • Samudragupta’s Prashasti
4. The rulers of the outlying areas, the

descendants of the Kushanas and Shakas

and the ruler of Sri Lanka, who submitted to

him and offered his daughters in marriage.

 Important For Exam

Samudragupta’s mother name is Kumara devi (कुमारा दे वी)

She belonged to the Lichchhavi gana (लिच्छवी गण)

 Chandragupta II

• After Samudragupta his son Chandragupta II become ruler.

• He was the first Gupta Ruler to issue Silver coin.

•
 Chandragupta II

• He led an expedition (अभभयान) to western India, where he overcame the last of the Shakas.

• He adopted the title of Vikramaditya.

•
 Chandragupta II

• His court (दरबार) was full of learned ( ) people, including Aryabhatta (the astronomer),

Kalidasa (the poet).

 Chandragupta II

Kalidasa was a court poet of Chandragupta II.

• He wrote many famous play.

• Abhijnana Shakuntalam (the story of the love between Dushyant and Shakuntala).

•
•
 Chandragupta II

1. Fa-Hien was the first chines traveler in India.

2. He visited India in Chandragupta's reign

Pushyabhuti (Puṣyabhuti), possibly mythical
Naravardhana
Rajyavardana 1
Adityavardhana (Ādityasena),
Prabhakara-vardhana
Rajya-vardhana 2
Harsha-vardhana
 Vardhana Dynasty
• Vardhana Dynasty was founded by

Pushyabhuti Vardhan.

• They ruled in northern India during 6th and 7th

िर्धन िंश की तथापना पुष्यभूति िर्धन ने की थी।
centuries AD. उन्होंने 6 िीं और 7 िीं शिाब्दी ईतिी के दौरान उत्तरी भारि में शासन तकया।

•
 Vardhana Dynasty
• The dynasty reached its peak under its last ruler

Harshavardhana.

िर्धन िंश की तथापना पुष्यभूति िर्धन ने की थी।

• उन्होंने 6 िीं और 7 िीं शिाब्दी ईतिी के दौरान उत्तरी भारि में शासन तकया।
Harshvardhana
• Harshavardhana was a great ruler of India.
• He was son of Prabhakar Vardhana.
• His court poet, Banabhatta, wrote his biography , the Harshacharita in
Sanskrit.

•
•
•
Harshvardhana
• Harsha was not the eldest son of his father, but became king of Thanesar after both his father
and elder brother died.
• Xuan Zang, the Chinese traveler, also spent a lot of time at Harsha's court and wrote a detailed
account of what he saw.

•
Harshvardhana
• Harsha was successful in the east, and

conquered both Magadha and Bengal, But

he was not as successful elsewhere.

•
Harshvardhana
• He tried to cross the Narmada to march into

the Deccan, but was stopped by Pulakeshin

II a ruler belonging to the Chalukya dynasty.

•
Q. Which age is referred to as “golden age” of ancient
India?
A. Chalukya
B. Mauryan
C. Gupta
D. Kushana

प्रश्‍
न. ककस‍काि‍को‍प्राचीन‍भारत‍का‍"स्वणण‍काि"
कहा‍जाता‍है ?
A. चालक् ु य
B. मौयय
C. गप्ु त
D. कुषाण
A. Only i and ii
B. Only i and iii
C. Only ii and iii
D. All i, ii and iii

A. केवल i और ii
B. केवल i और iii
C. केवल ii और iii
D. सभी i, ii और iii
A. Only i and ii
B. Only i and iii
C. Only ii and iii
D. All i, ii and iii

A. केवल i और ii
B. केवल i और iii
C. केवल ii और iii
D. सभी i, ii और iii
 ➢Vardhana Dynasty was founded by Pushyabhuti Vardhan.
➢They ruled in northern India during 6th and 7th centuries AD.
➢The dynasty reached its peak under its last ruler Harshvardhan.
➢Xuan Zang, the Chinese traveler, also spent a lot of time at Harsha's
court and wrote a detailed account of what he saw.
➢His court poet, Banabhatta, wrote his biography , the Harshacharita
in Sanskrit.

➢
➢
➢
➢

➢
A. Only i and ii
B. Only i and iii
C. Only ii and iii
D. All i, ii and iii

A. केवल i और ii
B. केवल i और iii
C. केवल ii और iii
D. सभी i, ii और iii
Political Development