The Gupta Empire
Explore the Gupta Empire — India's Golden Age of mathematics, astronomy, literature, and art that produced the concept of zero and classical Sanskrit culture.
The Gupta Empire, ruling from approximately 320 to 550 CE, presided over what historians call the Golden Age of India. Under Gupta patronage, Indian civilization reached peaks of achievement in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, literature, and the arts that would influence cultures across Asia and, eventually, the world.
The Gupta achievement in mathematics alone justifies the 'Golden Age' label. Gupta-era mathematicians developed the decimal numeral system — the system of numbers the entire world uses today. Aryabhata calculated the value of pi to four decimal places, proposed that the Earth rotated on its axis, and correctly explained eclipses. The concept of zero as both a placeholder and a number in its own right was formalized during this period — arguably one of the most important intellectual innovations in human history.
Gupta culture extended far beyond mathematics. Kalidasa, often called India's Shakespeare, wrote his great works during this era. The Ajanta and Ellora cave paintings and sculptures represent some of the finest artistic achievements of the ancient world. Sanskrit literature, drama, and poetry flourished under royal patronage. Hindu temple architecture developed into the elaborate forms that would spread across Southeast Asia, carrying Indian cultural influence far beyond the subcontinent.