History · X-Factor Notes
Gupta and Post-Gupta Period revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Dynasty Foundation | The dynasty was established around 275 AD by Srigupta. | |
| Gupta Samvat | Started by the first powerful ruler, Chandragupta I (319-335 AD). | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010 |
| Ruler Titles (Chandragupta I) | He was the first to assume the title ‘Maharajadhiraja’. | |
| Samudragupta | Called the ‘Napoleon of India’ by historian V. A. Smith. He was known as ‘Lichchhavi-Dauhitra’ (grandson of the Lichchhavis). He held the title Parama Bhagavata. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016 |
| Prayag Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar) | Associated with Samudragupta; originally built by Ashoka, later shifted by Akbar. It contains inscriptions from Ashoka, Samudragupta (written by Harisena), Ashoka's Queen Edict, and Jahangir (in Persian). It describes Samudragupta’s military achievements. Mahendra, King of Kosala, is mentioned in this inscription. | U.P. R.O./ A.R.O. (Pre) 2016, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004 |
| Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) | Also known as Devagupta, Devaraja, and Devashri. He assumed the throne after killing his elder brother, Ramagupta. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008 |
| Saka Victory | Chandragupta II conquered the Sakas (defeating Rudrasimha-III) and took the title ‘Sakari’. He issued dated silver coins (Rupaka) to commemorate this victory. | U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010 |
| Huna Invasion | The first Huna invasion occurred during the reign of Skandagupta (455-467 AD), who defeated them soundly. This is documented in the Bhitari Pillar Inscription. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015, U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004 |
| Huna Defeat Chronology | The Hunas invasion hastened the decline of the Gupta Empire, leading merchants to rely more on the South East Asian trade after the Roman Empire weakened. | |
| Girnar Water Management | Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka were the first rulers who paid attention to resource management and built Sudarshana Lake in the Girnar region. This lake was repaired by Rudradaman-I. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006 |
| Golden Age | The Gupta period is considered the Golden Age due to the excellent development in art and culture. | U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004 |
| Administrative Hierarchy | The correct sequence of administrative division was: Bhukti > Vishaya > Vithi > Grama. | U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2023 |
| Land Revenue/Taxes | Land revenue (Bhag or Udrang) was usually the sixth portion (1/6) of the production. ‘Udakabhog’ was the irrigation tax. Hiranya was a cash tax (Mauryan period). Tax on pasture land was Vivit. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2013 |
| Land Grants | The Gupta Dynasty donated the maximum number of villages to temples and Brahmins. | |
| Coinage | Gupta gold coins were called Dinara. Silver coins were called Rupaka. Fa-Hien noted that people used clamshells for routine trading. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017 |
| Trade Centers | Major trading ports included Tamralipti (East, handling North Indian trade), Bhrigu Kachchha (West), Ghantasala, Kadura, and Chaul. Textile manufacture was prominent in Gujarat, Bengal, Deccan, and Tamil Nadu. | |
| Town Decline | Gradual decline of towns was an important feature; Pataliputra had become a village by the time Hiuen-Tsang visited. | |
| Sati Practice | The first inscriptional evidence of the Sati practice (510 AD) is mentioned in the Eran inscription. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010 |
| Literary Figures (Chandragupta II) | Dhanvantari (Physician), Varahamihira (Astronomer), and Kalidasa (Poet) were among the Nine Gems (Navratnas) of Chandragupta II. | |
| Architecture (Temples) | The Sarnath Buddha image (Bhumi Sparsh mudra) belongs to the Gupta period. The earliest Panchayatan temple is the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh (Jhansi/Lalitpur, U.P.). The Brick-built Temple is found at Bhitargaon. | U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010, U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017 |
| Cave Paintings | The surviving examples of cave paintings from the Gupta period are the Ajanta caves and the Bagh caves. | |
| Scholarly Works | Harisena was the court poet of Samudragupta and composed the Prayag Prashasti. Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart), detailing societal change, was written by Sudraka. Devichandraguptam was composed by Vishakhadatta. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008 |
| Mathematics/Science | The invention of the decimal place is credited to Aryabhatta. The origin of the game Chess (Chaturanga) occurred in the Gupta period. | U.P.P.S.C. (R.I.) 2014 |
| Puranas | The Vayu Purana is associated with the Gupta Dynasty. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023 |
| Harsha's Reign | The founder of the Vardhana dynasty was Pushyabhuti. Harsha shifted the capital from Thanesar to Kannauj. He convened the Mahamoksha Council every five years at Prayagraj (Sangam region). | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993, U.P. Lower (Sub.) (Pre) 2004 |
| Harsha's Conflict (Narmada) | Harsha was defeated by the Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II at the Narmada River. This event is documented in the Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002 |
| Chinese Traveller (Hiuen Tsang) | Visited India during Harsha’s reign. He studied at Nalanda University. He noted that Mathura was the most famous city for the production of cotton textiles. He wrote Sei-Yu-Kei. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013 |
| Tripartite Struggle (8th-9th Century) | Fought for control of Kannauj between the Pala, Gurjara-Pratihara, and Rashtrakuta dynasties. Cholas were not part of this struggle. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012 |
| Pratihara Ruler | Mihir Bhoja I (Bhoja I) was the most prominent ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. He held the title 'Aadi Varaha'. | U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017 |
| Rashtrakuta Architecture | The Kailasa temple at Ellora (rock-cut structure) was constructed by the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2010 |
| Pala University | Vikramshila University was established by the Pala ruler Dharmapala. Nalanda University was founded during the Gupta period. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008 |
| South Indian Art | Chola dynasty was renowned for its efficient rural administration/village autonomy. The Brihadeeshwara Temple (Thanjavur) was built during the reign of Rajaraja I. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008 |
