Hannah and Ellie

Gupta empire was established in India and it affected India in many ways. We will explain about Gupta Empire by each category : Power, Economics, Religion, Social, Intellectual, and Artistic.

→ How power is distributed and how decisions are made. Gupta dynasty had own political system to control the empire, and it affected by religion, Hinduism.

Gupta empire had Strong central government. The government accepted the own management of each Individual villages and City governments. (Elected by merchants & artisans) - They are ruled by an Emperor. - Sometimes, power was transferred between leaders through violence, such as assassinations.

→ The making and distributing of money or wealth. The economics of Gupta empire was systematic and flourished.

Trade was essential industry. – Usually, they traded Salt, spices, various manufactured goods. – Artisans exported to East Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia. Mining, forestry, and agriculture are major industries. Leaders reduced taxes. They held freedom in high regards rather than taxes. (Taxes < Freedom)

→ How a society describes the supernatural. The official religion of Gupta empire gave many effects in most of Gupta’s culture.

Hinduism was the official religion. It supported the Caste System which is dividing people by castes(social status). Because of this system, there were many limits and restrictions in the Gupta society. Some rules of Gupta empire also were base on Hinduism. Hindus believed one god, Brahman, who suggests many deities to his followers(Hindus).

→ How individuals in a society interact with each other. Gupta Empire’s social features were based on Hinduism very much.

In Gupta empire, people married to a person who was chosen by their parents. Moreover, they practiced “dowry”, which was the payment to the bridegroom for marriage of their daughter. In Gupta families, children trained duties and traditions of their castes by parents. Most of their lives were divided by castes. They could not change their statuses forever.

→ How a society tends to solve problems (patterns). Gupta empire’s intellectual culture was strong, and more developed than other countries in some ways.

In Gupta empire, one of the major accomplishments was education that helped to develop science, mathematic system and so on. Moreover, Gupta doctors first used injection(vaccinating) to people for keeping healthy. – They had developed own remedies. The Gupta empire transferred and recorded ideas by writing long poems in Sanskrit.

The Hinduism also gave effects to the education system. For example, many students( especially, in higher status) educated in religious schools. (Buddhist monastery- university at Nalanda) However, this school taught students not only religion, but also other various subjects such as philosophy, mathmatics, medicine, physics, languages, and literature. They developed their own decimal system.

→ What a society sees as beautiful, how it defines beauty, and how it entertains itself. Gupta art is based on Hinduism and holds human emotions in high regards.

Gupta art focuses on emotions which can be seen in their dramas. Moreover, usually the play’s final scene is containing eight emotions to make audiences be overpowered. In the Gupta empire, they have long, elegant poems and plays. The eight pure emotions that audiences recognized in the Gupta court are known as “rasas”.