Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
The Gupta Empire (North India)
- About 1500 years ago, the Guptas ruled a large part of north India.
- Famous Gupta kings:
- Samudragupta — a great conqueror.
- Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) — known for a wealthy, cultured court.
Samudragupta's Prashasti
- A prashasti is a poem of praise.
- Samudragupta's Allahabad pillar prashasti was written by his minister Harishena.
- It lists the kings he conquered and praises him as brave, learned and a great musician.
Harshavardhana
- About 1400 years ago, Harshavardhana (Harsha) ruled from Kanauj.
- He tried to expand south but was defeated at the Narmada by the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II.
- His court poet Banabhatta wrote his biography, the Harshacharita.
Kingdoms in the Deccan and the South
| Kingdom | Region | Famous king |
|---|---|---|
| Pallavas | Around Kanchi (Tamil country) | — |
| Chalukyas | Deccan (capital Badami) | Pulakeshin II |
- Pulakeshin II's Aihole inscription records his deeds.
How These Kingdoms Were Ruled
Samantas
- Samantas were subordinate rulers.
- They gave the overlord tribute and soldiers, and helped in war.
- Some samantas later grew powerful and became kings in their own right.
Officials and Revenue
- Kings had officials to collect revenue and run the state.
- They gave land grants (agraharas) to Brahmins and temples, often recorded in inscriptions.
- Armies had elephants, horses and foot-soldiers.
Assemblies in the South
South India had local assemblies to manage affairs:
| Assembly | Who was in it | Looked after |
|---|---|---|
| Ur | Non-brahmin landholders | Village affairs |
| Sabha | Brahmin landholders | Village affairs (often irrigation) |
| Nagaram | Merchants / traders | Town and trade affairs |
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Prashasti | A poem of praise about a king |
| Harishena | Samudragupta's minister who wrote his prashasti |
| Samanta | A subordinate ruler under a bigger king |
| Agraahara | A land grant, often to Brahmins |
| Harshacharita | Banabhatta's biography of Harsha |
| Ur / Sabha / Nagaram | South Indian village and town assemblies |
| Pulakeshin II | The Chalukya king who defeated Harsha |
Exam Tips
- Samudragupta = great Gupta king; his Allahabad prashasti was by minister Harishena — a common 2-mark pair.
- Harsha ruled from Kanauj; stopped by Pulakeshin II (Chalukya) at the Narmada; biography = Harshacharita by Banabhatta.
- Samantas = subordinate rulers who give tribute and soldiers — define clearly.
- The three southern assemblies — ur (non-brahmin), sabha (brahmin), nagaram (merchants) — a favourite listing question.
- Gupta age + land grants (agraharas) and inscriptions are signs of how these kingdoms ruled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Samudragupta was a powerful Gupta king. His Allahabad pillar prashasti, written by his minister Harishena, lists the many kings he conquered and praises his bravery and learning.