UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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History of India: ancient and medieval / Guptas, Vakatakas and post-Gupta north India

Gupta empire: rulers and sources

Chandragupta I, Samudragupta (Prayaga prashasti by Harishena), Chandragupta II Vikramaditya, Kumaragupta I, Skandagupta
Fa-hien travels in India under Chandragupta II; his account of society and Buddhism
Decentralised administration: bhuktis, vishayas, samantas; land grants with fiscal and administrative rights
Gold dinaras, silver coins, Mehrauli iron pillar, Eran, Bhitari and Junagadh inscriptions
Huna invasions (Toramana, Mihirakula), feudatories, decline

Where to study

ch. 10 New Empires and Kingdoms, pp. 1-11 (printed 103-113)
ch. 10 New Empires and Kingdoms, Prashastis and what they tell us; Samudragupta's prashasti; Samudragupta the warrior; Genealogies, pp. 1-4 (printed 103-106)
ch. 10 New Empires and Kingdoms, Ordinary people in the kingdoms; A fisherman finds a ring (Fa Xian), pp. 8-9 (printed 110-111)
ch. 10 New Empires and Kingdoms, How were these kingdoms administered?; A new kind of army, pp. 6-7 (printed 108-109)

Lesson 7 The Guptas, pp. 110-127 (printed 106-123)
Lesson 7 The Guptas, Origins of the Gupta Dynasty; 7.1 Chandragupta I; 7.2 Samudragupta; 7.3 Chandragupta II, pp. 111-114 (printed 107-110)
Lesson 7 The Guptas, 7.3 Chandragupta II (Fahien), pp. 113-114 (printed 109-110)
Lesson 7 The Guptas, 7.4 Gupta's Administration; Administrative Units below the District level; Army, pp. 113-115 (printed 109-111)
Lesson 7 The Guptas, Sources; 7.5 Economic Condition; Industry: Mining and Metallurgy (coins, iron pillar), p. 111 (printed 107)
Lesson 7 The Guptas, Industry: Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 118-119 (printed 114-115)
Lesson 7 The Guptas, 7.7 Decline of the Guptas (Huns), pp. 122-123 (printed 118-119)
Lesson 8 Harsha and Rise of Regional Kingdoms, Summary (Yasodharman and the Hunas), p. 139 (printed 135)