The Gupta Empire AD 320-540

A Prosperous Age

Although the Gupta empire was founded by a wealthy family from either Magadha or Prayaga, the third Gupta king, Chandra Gupta I, is given most of the credit for officially founding the dynasty in 320 AD. In the following years, the empire expanded to reach the Himalayas in the north and and the Indus Valley region in the west.

Unlike past governments, the Gupta government was far more loose and left their villages up to their own means. Most settlements had homes made of wood or bamboo with thatched roofs and had narrow, twisted streets with vendors on each side. For the most part, each group of people also had a local military squad that unified with other regions to form the royal army.

Gupta citizens valued education, and often sent their children to places of learning. While most of the schools were either Hindu or Buddhist, lessons were not just focused on religion and philosophy. Instead, teachers also encouraged math, science, engineering, literature, art, and music.

In fact, when a Chinese monk named Faxian visited India, he wrote down how impressed he was with the enhanced learning and government ways.

Gupta Education