Home Region:  North India (South Asia)

Gupta Empire

320 CE 550 CE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  in_gupta_emp / InGupta
Preceding Entity:
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Succeeding Entity:
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Displayed: 400 CE

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  General Description   The Gupta polity ran from 320-514 CE, with its peak considered to be around 400 CE during the reign of Skanda-Gupta. [1]
At its largest, the Gupta empire spanned up to 900,000 square kilometres across north and south India, which it had full and direct control over, as well as southern India indirectly. The cities of Ujjain and Pataliputra seem to have both served as capital cities. While the total population is not known, the largest settlement, Pataliputra, is thought to have had a population of 150,000 people in 360 CE. [2] , Kulke and Rothermund (2004) [3] and Stein (2010) [4] .

Trade flourished under the Gupta Empire both internally across India as well as through overseas trading routes with China and the Roman Empire. Among their exports were pearls, gems, diamonds and precious metals. [1]
Common religions practiced in this polity included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism from both the Vaisnava and Saiva Traditions, though none claimed to be the exclusive or ‘correct’ religion. [5]

[1]: (Keay 2010, 146) Keay, John. 2010. India: A History. New Updated Edition. London: HarperPress. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HSHAKZ3X.

[2]: (Agrawal 1989)

[3]: (Kulke and Rothermund 2004)

[4]: (Stein 2010)

[5]: (Bisschop 2010, 478) Bisschop, Peter. 2010. “Saivism in the Gupta-Vakataka Age.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 20 (4):477-88.Seshat URL: .https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/M52PA8IW/itemKey/BHH5W2PV

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp) was in:
 (320 CE 514 CE)   Middle Ganga
Home NGA: Middle Ganga
General Variables
Identity and Location Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Capital Pataliputra Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Capital Ujjain Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Temporal Bounds Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 400 CE Confident
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Duration [320 CE ➜ 550 CE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations in_gupta_emp alliance with in_vakataka_k Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Degree of Centralization loose Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Language Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Language Sanskrit Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Language Prakrit Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Religion Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Hinduism Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Religion Family Vaisnava Traditions Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Alternate Religion Genus Buddhism Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 150,000 people Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Polity Territory [800,000 to 900,000] km2 Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [4 to 5] Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Religious Level 5 Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Military Level 5 Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Administrative Level 9 Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Professions Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Professional Military Officer Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Law Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Irrigation System Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Port Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Information / Writing System Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Script Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Religious Literature Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Practical Literature Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Philosophy Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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History Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Fiction Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Calendar Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Information / Money Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Indigenous Coin Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Information / Postal System Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Information / Measurement System Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moat Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Earth Rampart Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Ditch Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Military use of Metals Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Iron Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Copper Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Bronze Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Projectiles Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Sling Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Crossbow Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Handheld weapons Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Sword Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Spear Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Polearm Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Dagger Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Battle Axe Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Animals used in warfare Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Elephant Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Donkey Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Camel Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Armor Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Shield Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Scaled Armor Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Plate Armor Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Limb Protection Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Leather Cloth Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Laminar Armor Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Helmet Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Chainmail Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Breastplate Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Naval technology Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 320 CE  550 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Present Confident 320 CE  550 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Inferred 320 CE  550 CE
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Human Sacrifice Gupta Empire (in_gupta_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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