Unit VIII gupta empire
I. Pretext exercises
Ex. 1. Make sure you know how to pronounce the following proper names:
Ex. 2. Practice the pronunciation of the following words:
to bear, tomb, covered, grant, prosperous, pounce, successfully, frequent, revered, inoculation, rigid.
Ex. 3. Guess the meaning of the following words:
charismatic, incorporated, location, presentation, widowed, tribute, pilgrims, exterior, sponsored, apostle, missionary work.
Ex.4. Look at the title of the text. What is the region it deals with?
Ex. 5. Before reading the text answer the following questions:
Can you trace any patterns in histories of ancient empires?
Are the reasons for establishing such patterns of geographical, psychological or political character?
Can you recollect any names of India's prominent political figures of the past?
II. Text VIII gupta empire
The history of India's empires follows a certain pattern. A strong charismatic leader begins expanding against neighboring states. He sets up a central government, and for a time a period of prosperity comes to his capital as tribute pours in conquered states. Then his successors appear, not so able, and soon the empire cracks apart with local leaders snubbing the king's officials and his tax collectors.
The founder of India's second great empire bears the name of the first. He is Chandragupta 1, and the Gupta dynasty he founded is remarkably similar to the Mauryan Empire that preceded it. Even the capital, located in Pataliputra, was the same.
Chandragupta came to power about AD 320. He successfully incorporated most of northern India into his state, but he never reached the territorial limits of the Mauryans. Of great importance for Indian religious history, he and his successors were strong supporters of the Brahman religion.
It was probably during the Gupta period that Christianity first arrived in India. No doubt Christian Syrian merchants, trading in South India's spice market, spread their faith to the people living there. Christians in India called themselves after St. Thomas, for tradition claims he came to their country late in life and died there. They point out the apostle's tomb in Kerala, the location of his missionary work.
The artistry of the Gupta period is to be seen in the many Hindu temples built at this time both in northern and southern India, frequent festivals and colorful pageants attracted people away from Buddhism or Jainism. Towns grew about the temples to serve the thousands of Hindu pilgrims who came to them in hopes of gaining favors. Statues of gods and goddesses, dancers and musicians covered the exteriors of the temples.
It was a time of great literary works, as classics were written in Sanskrit in the north and Tamil in South India. The most revered poet of the times, Kalidasa wrote in Sanskrit. Kalidasa's play Shakuntala became the most popular of his works. It remains to this day one of the favorite presentations for the Indian people.
The Guptas set up centers for the study of astronomy, physics, and mathematics. In these schools scholars first invented the zero and the use of numerals that Europeans call Arabic. Astronomers discovered that the world moved on an axis. Great libraries, sponsored by imperial grants, aided the research. Doctors used inoculations to control smallpox and invented surgical instruments for operations.
Hinduism became more rigid as the Guptas saw to it that its views on caste should be made universal. Untouchables were forbidden to enter Brahman temples, enjoy the pageants, or even live in the same part of town with people of higher castes, women also lost out. They were excluded from much of public as well as religious life. Wives could not inherit family property and, if widowed, were forbidden remarriage.
In the late fifth century the prosperous Gupta period began to fade. Once more invaders waited to pounce on a divided nation.
Notes
1. There are two synonyms for the eastern part of the world as seen from Europe, especially Asia: the East and the Orient; oriental (sometimes capital letter) is an adjective and a noun for a person of or from the Orient. Compare it with the Occident or the West. An occidental (sometimes capital letter) is a person of the Occident. Both the Orient and the Occident are formal or literary words. The West and the East are neutral.
2. Some adjectives and nationality words are formed with the help of the suffix -IC.
N + -IС
The suffix is added to the stem:
e.g. Celt-Celtic
Arab — Arabic
!But: Cymru - Cymric (Welsh)
Asia — Asiatic