History · X-Factor Notes
Post-Mauryan to Gupta Age revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Chronological order of foreign invaders | Greeks (326 BC; Alexander) – Sakas (1st century BC) – Kushanas (1st century AD). | UPPCS (Pre) 2023 |
| Beginning of Saka Samvat | 78 AD (Most historians believe Kushan ruler Kanishka was the originator). | |
| Poet laureate of Kanishka | Ashvaghosha (works: Saundaranand, Buddhacharita, Sariputraprakaran). | UPPCS (Mains) 2008 |
| Scholars in Kanishka's Court | Parsva, Ashvaghosa, Nagarjuna, and Charaka (Court physician). Patanjali was associated with the Shunga period, not Kanishka's court. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008 |
| Gandhara School of Art | Developed during the Kushana period, influenced by Greek art. | |
| Practice started in Kushana Period | Child marriage. | |
| Satavahana Dynasty Capital | Paithan/Pratishthan. | |
| First Vakataka ruler to call himself a Samrat | Pravarasena I (275-335 AD); performed four Ashvamedha Yajnas. | UPPCS (Mains) 2003, UPPCS (Mains) 2011 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Founder of Gupta Dynasty | King Srigupta (around 275 AD). | |
| First powerful ruler of Gupta dynasty | Chandragupta I (319-335 AD), who held the title ‘Maharajadhiraja’. | |
| Start of Gupta Samvat | 319 A.D. |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdoms holding power (Decline of Guptas to rise of Harsha) | Guptas of Magadha, Pushyabhutis of Thanesar, Maukharis of Kanauj, and Maitrakas of Valabhi. | |
| Maukhari Dynasty | Feud of the Guptas; originally residents of Gaya; made Kannauj their capital. | |
| Harsha's southward march stopped |
| Napoleon of India | Samudragupta. |
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| Samudragupta's court poet/minister | Harisena. Composed the Prayag Prashasti (eulogy inscribed on Allahabad Pillar). |
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| Title assumed by Samudragupta | ‘Prithivyama Pratiratha’ (no rival on earth) after Ashvamedha Yajna. |
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| Gupta ruler killing elder brother | Chandragupta II killed Ramagupta (his elder brother) and married his wife Dhruv Devi. |
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| First Gupta ruler to issue silver coins | Chandragupta- II. This is strong evidence for his Saka victory. | U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010 |
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| Gupta ruler who defeated Hunas | Skandagupta. Confirmed by Bhitari Pillar Inscription. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014 |
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| Titles of Gupta Emperors | Ashoka (Priyadarsin); Samudragupta (Parakramanka); Chandragupta-II (Vikramaditya); Skandgupta (Kramaditya). | UPPCS (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2015 |
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| Navratnas of Chandragupta II | Included Kalidasa, Dhanvantari, Varahamihira, Amar Singh, Shanku, Kshapanak (Astrologer), Vararuchi, Vetala Bhatta, and Ghata Karpara. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008 |
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| First evidence of ‘Sati Practice’ | Mentioned in Eran inscription (510 AD) for the wife of commander Gopraj. |
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| Gradual decline of towns | An important feature of the Gupta period. Pataliputra became a village when Hiuen-Tsang visited. | UPPCS (Pre) 1995 |
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| Tax-free agrarian land grants | Granted maximum number of villages to temples and Brahmins. |
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| Land revenue terms in Gupta inscriptions | ‘Udrang’ and “Bhag”. |
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| Game originated in Gupta period | Chess (known as ‘Chaturanga’). |
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| Position of women | Situation of women was inferior in Gupta, Maurya, and Chola ages (except Vedic Age). |
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| Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart) | Written by Sudraka; deals with the love story of Charudatta and Vasantasena; tells about societal changes in the Gupta period. |
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| Harsha's capital shift | From Thaneshwar to Kannauj. |
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| Hiuen Tsang | Chinese traveler; arrived in 629 AD; wrote 'Sei-Yu-Kei'. Attended the 6th Mahamoksha council at Prayagraj. Visited Nalanda University in 637 AD (Acharya Sheelbhadra was V-C). |
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| Sanskrit Playwright and Works (Harsha) | Harsha is supposed to be the author of ‘Ratnavali,’ ‘Priyadarshika’ and ‘Nagananda’. |
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| Cotton textiles | Mathura was famous for its production during Hiuen Tsang's visit. |
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| Mahamoksha Council | A function held at Sangam region of Prayagraj every fifth year of Harsha’s rule. |
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