One-Page Revision Summary

Timeline at a glance:

c. 300 CE: Post-Mauryan vacuum; Nagas, Kshatrapas, republican states dominate
319–320 CE: Gupta Era begins; Chandragupta I takes Maharajadhiraja title; matrimonial alliance with Lichchhavis
335–375 CE: Samudragupta — Prayaga-prashasti; grahana-moksha policy in south; north territories annexed
375–415 CE: Chandragupta II — defeats Shaka king Rudrasimha III; Mehrauli Iron Pillar; Fa-Hien's visit; Kalidasa; Visakhadatta
415–455 CE: Kumaragupta I — stability; Huna threat begins
455–467 CE: Skandagupta — Huna repulsion; Sudarshana lake repair; financial stress visible in coinage
~550 CE: End of effective Gupta power

Key themes to remember:

Theme	Key Fact
Polity	Decentralised; grahana-moksha in south; samanta system
Revenue	Land tax = 1/6; Shulka; Vishti; Bali
Economy	Shreni (guilds); gold dinaras; trade with Rome/Central Asia
Literature	Kalidasa (Navaratna); Devi Chandraguptam (Visakhadatta)
Science	Aryabhattiyam; Brihat Samhita; Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas
Art	Dashavatara temple, Deogarh; Bhitargaon; Ajanta paintings
Society	Varna revival; women's status declined; slavery existed
Religion	Vaishnavism dominant; Sanskrit revived; Buddhism/Jainism tolerated
Decline	Hunas (Tormana, Mihirakula); samantas; land grants; dynastic disputes

Glossary (12 Terms)

Term	Meaning
Maharajadhiraja	King of Kings — supreme imperial title used by Chandragupta I onward
Prayaga-prashasti	Allahabad Pillar inscription composed by Harishena; primary source for Samudragupta's conquests
Grahana-moksha	Policy of capturing and releasing defeated south Indian kings after accepting suzerainty
Samanta	Subordinate/feudatory ruler who governed territories under Gupta suzerainty
Bhukti	Provincial administrative unit under the Guptas, governed by an Uparika
Vishaya	District-level administrative unit under a Vishayapati or Ayuktaka
Shreni	Guild organisation of craftsmen or merchants; state was expected to protect it
Agrahara	Settlement of Brahmin donees created through royal land grants; also called Brahmadeya
Vishti	Compulsory unpaid labour (corvee) extracted from cultivators by the state
Gupta Era	Gupta Samvat, counted from 319–320 CE, inaugurated by Chandragupta I
Nagaraka	The ideal city-dweller of the Gupta period — affluent, cultured, pleasure-loving
Antyaja	Untouchable groups (Chandalas, Charmakaras) excluded from the varna scheme