Class 7 Social Science — Chapter 7: The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity

What you'll learn

• ▸Rise of the Gupta Dynasty
• ▸Contemporary Kingdoms (3rd-6th Century CE)
• ▸Gupta Metallurgy: The Iron Pillar of Delhi
• ▸Key Ruler: Chandragupta I
• ▸Key Ruler: Samudragupta, the Warrior King
• ▸Key Ruler: Chandragupta II (Vikramāditya)
• ▸Sources of Gupta History
• ▸Significance of Coins and Rituals

Chapter Summary

--- PAGE 1 --- The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity Neither force nor mere diplomacy can eliminate evil; nor is righteousness upheld by flattery alone. It is wisdom and knowledge that truly strengthen a kingdom — not indulgence in luxuries. — Kālidāsa in Raghuvamsham CHAPTER 7 Fig. 7.1. Landscape of Ajanta caves, dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE The Big Questions 1. Who were the Guptas? Why is the Gupta period sometimes called the ‘classical age’ in Indian history? 2. What was happening in the rest of the subcontinent at this time? 3. Who were some great figures of this period, and why do their stories matter today? 0781CH07 --- PAGE 2 --- Dhruv and Bhavisha had just returned from their journey to the Pāṇḍya kingdom. They had seen the splendid markets, taken a short trip on a ship, and met some Roman traders buying pearls. Now they were itching to use Itihāsa again and jump a few centuries. “What would that be like?” they wondered. “Will…

Practice Questions from this Chapter

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1. Explain how the Iron Pillar avoids rust. Get Solution →
2. Describe daily life in the Gupta Empire. Get Solution →
3. List major inventions from the Gupta era. Get Solution →
4. According to the text, what was the capital of the Gupta Empire? Get Solution →
5. Which ruler of the Gupta dynasty is credited with erecting the famous Iron Pillar of Delhi? Get Solution →
6. Who was the court poet of Samudragupta who composed the prayāga praśasti? Get Solution →
7. The Chinese traveller Faxian visited India during which century? Get Solution →
8. One of Samudragupta's coins depicts him playing which musical instrument? Get Solution →

Did you know?

• 💡 The Delhi Iron Pillar has stood for 1600 years without ever rusting.
• 💡 Ancient Indian scholars developed the decimal system and the concept of zero.
• 💡 The veena is one of the oldest string instruments in the world.
• 💡 Kālidāsa, a famous Gupta era poet, is called the Shakespeare of India.
• 💡 The popular game of chess may have originated in India during the Gupta Empire.

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