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UPPCS Ancient History Gap Sheet: Guptas, Vakatakas and Harsha.
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First, the concept
Gupta rulers used conquest, alliances, titles and coinage to express power. Their political system also allowed regional rulers and land grants; a cultural golden age does not mean equal prosperity or status for everyone.
After Gupta power weakened, several regional kingdoms emerged. Harsha’s court and religious assemblies belong to the seventh century; distinguish his biography from the fourth-century campaigns praised by Harisena.
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Gupta rulers and evidence
- Chandragupta I's alliance · Married Licchavi princess Kumaradevi; the alliance is reflected on coins.
- Gupta era · Conventionally begins in 319–320 CE.
- Samudragupta's campaigns · Prayag Prashasti distinguishes northern annexations from southern rulers reinstated after defeat.
- Samudragupta's lyrist coins · Show the king playing a stringed instrument.
- Chandragupta II's Saka victory · Defeated Western Kshatrapas; silver coins provide evidence.
- Chandragupta II's title · Associated with the title Vikramaditya.
- Kumaragupta I's reign · Gupta ruler associated with the Mahendraditya title.
- Skandagupta and Hunas · His Bhitari inscription records victories including over the Hunas.
- Junagadh repair under Skandagupta · Inscription records repair of Sudarshana lake by Chakrapalita.
- Mehrauli iron pillar · Inscription praises a king Chandra, usually identified with Chandragupta II.
- Gupta gold dinaras · Gold coins carried royal figures and diverse types.
- Gupta silver rupakas · Rupaka is a term for silver coinage.
- Tamralipti port · Eastern port important for overseas trade and travel.
- Prabhavatigupta's regency · Chandragupta II's daughter; acted as regent in the Vakataka kingdom.
- Gupta bhukti and vishaya · Bhukti was a provincial division and vishaya a district-level division.
- Eran sati inscription · 510 CE inscription of Bhanugupta mentions Goparaja's wife entering fire after his death.
Harsha and regional power
- Harsha's Pushyabhuti dynasty · Ruled in the seventh century, about 606–647 CE.
- Pulakeshin II checks Harsha · Chalukya resistance prevented Harsha's expansion across the Narmada.
- Harshacharita biography · Banabhatta's Sanskrit prose biography of Harsha.
UP political and inscription sites
- Prayag Prashasti · Harisena composed Samudragupta's Sanskrit eulogy on the pillar at Prayagraj.
- Bhitari pillar inscription · Ghazipur district; a major source for Skandagupta.
- Kannauj capital of Harsha · His political centre shifted from Thanesar to Kannauj.
- Harsha's Prayag assembly · Xuanzang describes periodic distribution of gifts at Prayag.
- Harsha's Kannauj assembly · A major religious assembly attended by Xuanzang.
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Gupta rulers and evidence: 3
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⚠️ Harisena wrote Samudragupta’s praise; Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita. Gupta era 319–320 CE is different from the Saka era starting in 78 CE.
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