Gupta Empire

This civilization was founded by Chandra Gupta I, who was not the same as Chandragupta Maurya. This Chandra Gupta had a much looser rule rather that the Mauryan ruler because he gave some power to local leaders. His government was strong and promoted peace and prosperity. This reign was known as the Golden Age because it united the Indian subcontinent and had great cultural achievement. It lasted from 320 A.D. to 550 A.D., and was greatly influenced by Hinduism and the caste system. During this time the society also had great math, medicine, and other educational advancements. They discovered the concept of zero, the decimal system, and Arabic numerals. The civilization eventually started to decline as a result of bad leaders and invasions especially from the White Huns.

Kalidasa was the greatest Gupta playwright and poet. He wrote many plays and poems in Sanskrit, but his most famous play was Shankuntala. Shakuntala is about a king who marries an orphan but is put under a spell to forget her. At the end of the poem he regains his memory and is reunited with his wife.