Gupta Dynasty was one of the ancient Indian empires that ruled during 240 to 550 CE in Northern, Central as well as Western parts of India. The decline of the Gupta kingdom in the 6th century AD slowly and gradually led to the growth of many small kingdoms. In this process, certain regions witnessed the emergence of new kingdoms; and in other regions, the erstwhile Gupta vassals freed themselves from the sovereignty of the Guptas, founding independent kingdoms. Of the new political powers that emerged, the important ones are kings like Yasodharman, and powers such as the Maukharis, the Hunas and the later Magadhan Guptas. Along with these new powers, the Pushyabhutis, the Gaudas, the Varmans and the Maitrakas also became important powers to be reckoned with at that time. The political scenario of this period is to be understood against this background of the emergence of regional identities represented by the new political powers. This important book is an effort to recollect the historical overview of post Gupta Dynasty period in India. A must read book for graduate students and researchers of Indian History courses.

Munaf Thakkar is Associate Professor in the Department of History, SN College, Shahmal Khaira, Deo Rohtas (Bihar). He has attended several seminars and his many research articles have been published.

The Gupta Dynasty, founded by Chandragupta I (accession c. 320 CE), ruled in North Central India between the 4th and 6th centuries CE and the period is considered a golden age of artistic accomplishment. The Guptas were the first architects of purpose-built Hindu (but sometimes also Buddhist) temples which evolved from the earlier tradition of rock-cut shrines. Rulers of the Gupta Dynasty Chandragupta's son, Samudragupta (ruled 335-380 CE), was a brilliant warrior and statesman, sometimes called the "Napoleon of India." Samudragupta, however, never faced a Waterloo, and was able to pass on a greatly expanded Gupta Empire to his sons. His successor, Mihirakula, was undoubtedly one of the known tyrants of history. Let by Baladitya Gupta, the last great monarch of the imperial dynasty, the rulers of north India combined to attack him and overthrow his power in a great battle of 528 A.D. The hun dynasty ended with it. The post-Gupta era is a period that witnessed the beginnings of the regional identities that took deep roots in course of time. This formative period requires a detailed study, since many institutions and problems of present-day India owe their origin to this period. With the disintegration of the Gupta political power centre, the northern half of the subcontinent splintered into 'warring kingdoms and each tried to become a sovereign power. The basis of this sover-eignty was distinct regionalism and localism that achieved a clear picture and structure in later centuries. The political heirs to the Gupta political power attempted to recreate an empire but, with the exception of the Pratihara kingdom, the attempts of others remained only a distant dream. The ability to establish large kingdoms and empires appears to have shifted to the region beyond the Vindhyas, i.e., the powers of the Deccan and the Tamil country. These powers of the Deccan and the south, the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, the Pallavas and the Cholas showed the greatest vitality in the evolution of the classical Indian civilization.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages