1. Who is called the Napoleon of Ancient India?
2. ‘Prithivyah Pratham Veer’ was the title of
3. Which of the following pillar inscriptions has recorded the achievements of Samudragupta, who was known as the ‘Napoleon of India’ for his conquests?
4. An inscription by which of the following is found on the pillar containing Prayag Prashasti of Samudragupta?
5. The Allahabad pillar inscription is associated with which one of the following?
6. Which Gupta king granted permission to Meghverma, the ruler of Sri Lanka, to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya?
7. Prayag Prashashti tells about the military campaign of
8. Who among the following Gupta kings had another name Devagupta?
9. What was Chandragupta-II also known as?
10. The first Gupta ruler to assume the title of ‘Param Bhagavata’ was
11. Who was the first Gupta ruler to issue silver coins?
12. Who is known as ‘Saka conqueror’?
13. Who of the following among the nine gems of Chandragupta was associated with astrology?
14. Kalidas was in the ruling period of
15. The second capital of the Gupta ruler, Chandragupta-II, was
16. Aryabhatta and Kalidasa were in the court of which Gupta ruler?
17. During which Gupta king’s reign did the Chinese traveller Fa-hien visit India?
18. Who is known as the Napoleon of India?
19. Which Gupta ruler adopted the title Vikramaditya?
20. Which Gupta king is credited with defeating the Shakas?
21. Which Gupta emperor founded the Nalanda University?
22. Which was the primary language of the Gupta period?
23. Who is known as the founder of the Gupta Empire?
24. Which Gupta emperor was known as Kaviraja?
25. Who issued the Allahabad Pillar Inscription?
26. Who among the following was a famous astronomer in the Gupta period?
27. Which Gupta emperor faced the invasion of the Huns?
28. Which Gupta ruler was responsible for the Iron Pillar at Mehrauli?
29. What was the religion of most Gupta rulers?
30. Which Gupta emperor is credited with starting the Gupta era?
31. Hiuen-Tsang, hailed as the prince of pilgrims, visited India during the reign of king?
32. Chinese writers mention India by the name of?
33. Poet Bana was inhabitant of?
34. Who has written the Harsacharit?
35. Banabhatta was the court poet of?
36. Who has written the autobiography of Harsha?
37. Who founded the Maukhari dynasty?
38. Where was the capital of Maukhari rulers?
39. Who founded Maitraka dynasty?
40. Which of the following was the most powerful ruler of Maitraka dynasty?
41. Where was the capital of Gauda kingdom?
42. Which of the following Gauda rulers had cut the Bodhi tree, where the Buddha found enlightenment?
43. In post Gupta period administration, Provinces were called as?
44. Which of the following is not correctly matched?
45. Generally, which one of the following had the first right over "stridhan" in case of succession?
46. Which one of the following were not the "Antyaj" or "untouchables"?
47. Which of the following is correctly matched?
48. Which of the following lawgivers of the post Gupta period declared that Sudras were not slaves by nature?
49. During post Gupta period, main business centre was?
50. During Hiuen-Tsang tour in India, most famous city for the production of cotton clothes was?
51. The term "Kausheya" has been used for?
52. Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the "Hundi" generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?
53. Consider the following statements: I. The trade with South East Asia during post Gupta age registered a significant increase. II. Saurastra (Gujarat) was famous for its bell metal industry during this period. Select the correct answer using the code below.
54. Human sacrifice was prevalent in which of the following sect?
55. Shaiva saints were called?
56. The rulers of which of the following dynasty have been called as "Shriparvatiya" in Puranas?
The Gupta Period (c. 320-550 AD)
1. The Gupta Empire
- Founder: Chandragupta I (c. 320 AD).
- Golden Age of India: Known for achievements in science, arts, literature, and culture.
- Capital: Pataliputra (modern-day Patna).
2. Important Rulers
- Chandragupta I – Founder of the Gupta dynasty.
- Samudragupta (c. 335–380 AD) – Famous for his military conquests and cultural patronage.
- Chandragupta II (c. 380–415 AD) – Known as “Vikramaditya”; expanded the empire and fostered cultural growth.
- Kumaragupta I and Skandagupta – Last major rulers before the empire weakened.
3. Achievements
- Arts & Culture: Classical Sanskrit literature flourished with works by Kalidasa, Varahamihira, and others.
- Mathematics: Aryabhata, a mathematician and astronomer, formulated the concept of zero and worked on algebra.
- Science: Major developments in astronomy and medicine, especially by scholars like Varahamihira and Sushruta.
- Education: Nalanda University became a prominent center of learning.
- Architecture: Development of temples with intricate carvings and structures like the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh.
4. Decline of Gupta Empire
- Invasions by the Hunas (c. 450 AD) weakened the empire.
- Internal conflicts and fragmentation led to the collapse by the mid-6th century.
The Post-Gupta Period (c. 550–750 AD)
1. Major Kingdoms
- Harsha’s Empire (c. 606–647 AD):
- Harsha Vardhana, the last great ruler of India in the post-Gupta period, united northern India.
- Capital at Kanauj.
- Patronized arts, literature, and Buddhism.
- Defeated by the Chalukyas of the Deccan in 647 AD.
- The Chalukyas of Badami (c. 550–750 AD):
- Notable rulers like Pulakeshin II.
- Capital at Badami (in modern-day Karnataka).
- Fought and repelled invasions by the Gupta kings and Harsha.
- The Pallavas of Kanchipuram (c. 600–900 AD):
- Known for architectural achievements like the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram.
- The Rajputs (c. 700 AD onwards):
- Emerged as significant power in northern and central India after the decline of Gupta rule.
2. Social and Cultural Changes
- Religion: Continued patronage of Hinduism, with a rise in the Bhakti movement and the spread of Buddhism and Jainism.
- Literature: Flourished under the rule of Harsha and in the courts of various regional kingdoms.
- Notable works include Harsha’s play, Ratnavali.
- Architecture: Development of rock-cut temples and monuments.
- Example: Badami Chalukya rock-cut temples.
3. Decline and Fragmentation
- After Harsha’s death, India saw the rise of regional powers and local kingdoms, leading to further fragmentation and the decline of centralized rule.
Key Concepts for Competitive Exams
- Gupta Empire: “Golden Age of India” in science, culture, and governance.
- Harsha: Last major emperor who tried to reunite India after the fall of the Gupta Empire.
- Regional Kingdoms: Rise of powerful kingdoms like the Chalukyas, Pallavas, and Rajputs.
- Invasions: The decline of the Gupta Empire due to invasions by the Huns and other central Asian tribes.
- Cultural Achievements: Literature, mathematics (zero and decimals), and architecture reached new heights during this period.