Ancient And Medieval History of

Bangladesh
 Cont.
No one can determine the exact time when
people started living in this place. Some
assume that people came and settled in
Bengal (Bangladesh, West Bengal) ten
thousand or more years ago. Those people
were the non-Aryan ethnic groups – Nisadas
or Austro-Asiatics or Austric who are now
represented by the peoples known as Kola,
Bhil, Santal, Shabara, Pulinda etc.
 Cont.
In 2000 BC, the Aryan came to India and made a
developed civilization.  After many days of this time
they came to Bangla. Before the time of Aryan the
history and the life style of the people of Bangla is
unknown. Different groups of people settled in
different areas in Bengal and the name of the areas
were associated with the groups settled in that
area. There were 16 ancient Janapadas, such as: 
Vanga, Pundra, Radha, Gauda, Harikela, Samatata,
Magadha etc.
 Cont.
1. Vanga: Vanga (also known as Banga) or
Greater Bengal was a kingdom located in the
eastern part of the Indian Subcontinent,
comprising part of West Bengal, India and
present-day modern Bangladesh.
 Cont.
2. Pundra: Pundra was an eastern kingdom
located in West Bengal, Bangladesh and Bihar.
The kingdom was also known as Paundra,
Paundraya, Purnia etc. One Pundra king
challenged Vasudeva Krishna by imitating his
attributes. He called himself Paundraka
Vasudeva.
 Cont.
4. Gauda: The geographical limit of the Gauda
country is not mentioned, the fact that it is
linked with Vanga and Pundra definitely
indicates its location in eastern India.
 Cont.
5. Harikela: Harikela was a kingdom in ancient
Bengal encompassing much of the eastern
regions of the Indian Subcontinent. There are
numerous references to the kingdom in
historical texts as well as archeological
artifacts including silver coinage.
 Cont.
6. Samatata: The Kingdom of Samatata was a
kingdom in the earliest Bengal, which was
located at the mouth of the Brahmaputra
River in the south east side of Bengal. It was a
vassal to the Gupta Empire.  Samatata was a
distinct entity, well-known and well-
recognised since Samudragupta’s time (4th
century AD).
 Cont.
7. Magadha: Magadha was one of the sixteen
Janapadas. Magadha was established by
Chandragupta Maurya, and it is spreaded over
most of the south Asian area, Afghanistan and
Persia under Ashoka the Great.
 Ancient Period

In the ancient time there was no state that

developed comprising the whole of Bengal. That is
why there was no existence of any state by the
name of Bengal or Bangladesh. The country was
divided into a number of small states. Every ruler of
his state ruled in his own way. The regions were like
small independent countries. They can not,
however, be called kingdoms or states. These
regions of Bengal were then called settlements or
human habitations.
 Cont.
Some knowledge about the political history of Bengal
can be gained chronologically from the reigns of the
Pala Kings onwards. At that time no ruler could rule
the whole of Bengal for a long time. During the reign
of Asoka a part of Bengal became a province of the
Maurya Empire. It was during the Maurya period that
some independent kingdoms rose in some regions of
Bengal. Thus relationship grew between Bengal and
other countries. When the Maurya rule came to an
end, the country went under the Gupta rule.
 Cont.
Thereafter a leader named Gupta brought an end to
the disorder and established the Pala Dynasty. The
Pala Dynasty fell in the middle of the eleventh
century. During the Pala rule some independent
kingdoms rose from the families of Kharga, the
Deva, the Chandra, the Verma etc of Southeast
Bengal. Then the Sena rule continued for two
hundred years. In the first deacde of the thirteenth
century the Sena rule gave way to the Muslim
power.
 Cont.
A Chinese visitor, known as Fa-hsien, states that in the
east, Tamralipti was the great emporium for trading. Many
Gupta coins which were found in Bengal, prove that the
economic condition of this region was very strong under
the Guptas.
In the first half of the sixth century AD, the invasions of
the Hunas broke down the Gupta Empire. Southern and
Eastern Bengal shook off the suzerainty of the Guptas and
attained importance as an independent kingdom under
local rulers. During this time there were two independent
state established in Bangla, namely Vanga and Gouda.
 Rise of the Gupta Empire

From 320-550 CE, the Gupta Empire assimilated neighboring

kingdoms, through conquest or political alliances.

The Gupta Empire, founded by Maharaja Sri Gupta, was an

ancient Indian realm that covered much of the Indian
Subcontinent from approximately 320-550 CE. Gupta rule,
while solidified by territorial expansion through war, began a
period of peace and prosperity marked by advancements in
science, technology, engineering, art, dialectics, literature,
logic, mathematics, astronomy, religion, and philosophy.
 Cont.
Definition
The Gupta Empire stretched across northern, central and parts of
southern India between c. 320 and 550 CE. The period is noted for its
achievements in the arts, architecture, sciences, religion, and philosophy. 
Chandragupta I (320 – 335 CE) started a rapid expansion of the Gupta 
Empire and soon established himself as the first sovereign ruler of the
empire. It marked the end of 500 hundred years of domination of the
provincial powers and resulting disquiet that began with the fall of the
Mauryas. Even more importantly, it began a period of overall prosperity
and growth that continued for the next two and half centuries which
came to be known as a “Golden Age” in India’s history. But the seed of
the empire was sown at least two generations earlier than this when
Srigupta, then only a regional monarch, set off the glory days of this
mighty dynasty in circa 240 CE.
 Cont.
Chandragupta I
From the Kushans, the Gupta kings learned the benefit of
maintaining a cavalry and Chandragupta I, son of Ghatotkacha,
made effective use of his strong army. Through his marriage with
Licchhavi Princess Kumaradevi, Chandragupta I received the
ownership of rich mines full of iron ore adjacent to his kingdom.
Metallurgy was already at an advanced stage and forged iron was
not only used to meet the internal demands, but also became a
valuable trade commodity. The territorial heads ruling over various
parts of India could not counter the superior armed forces of
Chandragupta I and had to surrender before him. It is conjectured
that at the end of his reign, the boundary of the Gupta Empire
already extended to Allahabad.
 Cont.
Samudragupta
Samudragupta (circa 335 – 375 CE), Chandragupta I’s son who ascended the throne next, was
a military genius and he continued the growth of the kingdom. After conquering the remainder of
North India, Samudragupta turned his eyes to South India and added a portion of it to his empire
by the end of his Southern Campaign. It is generally believed that during his time the Gupta
Empire spanned from the Himalayas in north to the mouth of Krishna and Godavari rivers in the
South, from Balkh, Afghanistan in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east.
Samudragupta was very attentive to rajdharma (duties of a king) and took special care to
follow Kautilya’s (350 – 275 BCE) Arthashastra (an economic, social and political treatise that has
clear instructions about how a monarchy should be governed) closely. He donated large sums of
money for various philanthropic purposes, including the promotion of education. Besides being a
courageous king and able administrator, he was a poet and musician. The large number of gold
 coins circulated by him showcases his multifaceted talent. An inscription, probably
commissioned by subsequent Gupta kings, known as the Allahabad Pillar is most eloquent about
his humane qualities. Samudragupta also believed in promoting goodwill among various religious
communities. He gave, for example, Meghavarna, king of Ceylon, permission and support for the
construction of a monastery in Bodh Gaya.
 Cont.
Chandragupta II
A short struggle for power appears to have ensued after the reign of
Samudragupta. His eldest son Ramagupta became the next Gupta king. This was
noted by 7th century CE Sanskrit author Banbhatta in his biographical
work, Harshacharita. What followed next forms a part of Sanskrit poet and
playwright Visakh Dutta’s drama Devi Chandra Guptam. As the story goes,
Ramagupta was soon overcome by a Scythian king of Mathura. But the Scythian
king, besides the kingdom itself, was interested in Queen Dhruvadevi who was
also a renowned scholar. To maintain peace Ramagupta gave up Dhruvadevi to
his opponent. It is then Ramagupta’s younger brother Chandragupta II with a few
of his close aides went to meet the enemy in disguise. He rescued Dhruvadevi
and assassinated the Scythian king. Dhruvadevi publicly condemned her husband
for his behaviour. Eventually, Ramagupta was killed by Chandragupta II who also
married Dhruvadevi sometime later.
 Cont.
Like Samudragupta, Chandragupta II (circa 380 – 414 CE) was a
benevolent king, able leader and skilled administrator. By defeating the
satrap of Saurashtra, he further expanded his kingdom to the coastline of
the Arabian Sea. His courageous pursuits earned him the title of
Vikramaditya. To rule the vast empire more efficiently, Chandragupta II
founded his second capital in Ujjain. He also took care to strengthen the
navy. The seaports of Tamralipta and Sopara consequently became busy
hubs of maritime trade. He was a great patron of art and culture too.
Some of the greatest scholars of the day including the navaratna (nine
gems) graced his court. Numerous charitable institutions, orphanages
and hospitals benefitted from his generosity. Rest houses for travellers
were set up by the road side. The Gupta Empire reached its pinnacle
during this time and unprecedented progress marked all areas of life.
 Cont.
Politics & Administration
Great tact and foresight were shown in the governance of the
vast empire. The efficiency of their martial system was well
known. The large kingdom was divided into
smaller pradesha (provinces) and administrative heads were
appointed to take care of them. The kings maintained discipline
and transparency in the bureaucratic process. Criminal law was
mild, capital punishment was unheard of and judicial torture was
not practised. Fa Hien called the cities of Mathura and Pataliputra
as picturesque with the latter being described as a city of flowers.
People could move around freely. Law and order reigned and,
according to Fa Hien, incidents of theft and burglary were rare.
 Cont.
The following also speaks volumes about the
prudence of the Gupta kings. Samudragupta
acquired a far greater part of southern India than
he cared to incorporate into his empire. Therefore,
in quite a few cases, he returned the kingdom to
the original kings and was satisfied only with
collecting taxes from them. He reckoned that the
great distance between that part of the country and
his capital Pataliputra would hinder the process of
good governance.
 Cont.
Socio-economic Conditions
People led a simple life. Commodities were affordable and all round
prosperity ensured that their requirements were met easily. They preferred
vegetarianism and shunned alcoholic beverages. Gold and silver coins were
issued in great numbers which is a general indicative of the health of the 
economy. Trade and commerce flourished both within the country and
outside. Silk, cotton, spices, medicine, priceless gemstones, pearl, precious 
metal and steel were exported by sea. Highly evolved steelcraft led
everyone to a belief that Indian iron was not subject to corrosion. The 7 m
(23 ft) high Iron Pillar in Qutub complex, Delhi, built around 402 CE, is a
testimony to this fact. Trade relations with Middle East improved. Ivory,
tortoise shell etc. from Africa, silk and some medicinal plants from China
 and the Far East were high on the list of imports. Food, grain, spices, salt,
gems and gold bullion were primary commodities of inland trade.
 Cont.
Religion
Gupta kings knew that the well-being of the empire lie in
maintaining a cordial relationship between the various communities.
They were devout Vaishnava (Hindus who worship the Supreme
Creator as Vishnu) themselves, yet that did not prevent them from
being tolerant towards the believers of Buddhism and Jainism.
Buddhist monasteries received liberal donations. Yijing observed how
the Gupta kings erected inns and rest houses for Buddhist monks and
other pilgrims. As a pre-eminent site of education and cultural
exchange Nalanda prospered under their patronage. Jainism
flourished in northern Bengal, Gorakhpur, Udayagiri and Gujarat.
Several Jain establishments existed across the empire and Jain
councils were a regular occurrence.
 Cont.
Literature, Sciences & Education
Sanskrit once again attained the status of a lingua franca and
managed to scale even greater heights than before. Poet and
playwright Kalidasa created such epics
as Abhijnanasakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Raghuvansha an
d Kumarsambhaba. Harishena, a renowned poet, panegyrist
and flutist, composed Allahabad Prasasti, Sudraka
wrote Mricchakatika, Vishakhadatta
created Mudrarakshasa and Vishnusharma
penned Panchatantra. Vararuchi, Baudhayana, Ishwar Krishna
and Bhartrihari contributed to both Sanskrit and Prakrit
linguistics, philosophy and science.
 Cont.
Varahamihira wrote Brihatsamhita and also contributed to the fields of
astronomy and astrology. Genius mathematician and astronomer
Aryabhata wrote Surya Siddhanta which covered several aspects of
geometry, trigonometry and cosmology. Shanku devoted himself to
creating texts about Geography. Dhanvantri’s discoveries helped the
Indian medicinal system of ayurveda become more refined and efficient.
Doctors were skilled in surgical practices and inoculation against
contagious diseases was performed. Even today, Dhanvantri’s birth
anniversary is celebrated on Dhanteras, two days before Diwali. This
intellectual surge was not confined to the courts or among the royalty.
People were encouraged to learn the nuances of Sanskrit literature,
oratory, intellectual debate, music and painting. Several educational
institutions were set up and the existing ones received continuous
support.
 Cont.
Art, Architecture & Culture
What philosopher and historian Ananda Coomaraswamy said in The Arts & Crafts of India &
Ceylone, about the art of the region must be remembered here,
The Hindus do not regard the religious, aesthetic, and scientific standpoints as necessarily
conflicting, and in all their finest work, whether musical, literary, or plastic, these points of
view, nowadays so sharply distinguished, are inseparably united.
The finest examples of painting, sculpture and architecture of the period can be found in 
Ajanta, Ellora, Sarnath, Mathura, Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. The basic tenets of Shilpa
Shasrta (Treatise on Art) were followed everywhere including in town planning. Stone
studded golden stairways, iron pillars (The iron pillar of Dhar is twice the size of Delhi’s Iron
Pillar), intricately designed gold coins, jewellery and metal sculptures speak volumes about
the skills of the metalsmiths. Carved ivories, wood and lac-work, brocades and embroidered
textile also thrived. Practicing vocal music, dance and seven types of musical instruments
including veena (an Indian musical stringed instrument), flute and mridangam (drum) were a
norm rather than exception. These were regularly performed in temples as a token of
devotion. In classic Indian style, artists and litterateurs were encouraged to meditate on the
imagery within and capture its essence in their creations. As Agni Purana suggests, “O thou
Lord of all gods, teach me in dreams how to carry out all the work I have in my mind.”
 Cont.
Decline of the Empire
After the demise of his father Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I
(circa 415 – 455 CE) ruled over the vast empire with skill and
ability. He was able to maintain peace and even fend off strong
challenges from a tribe known as Pushyamitra. He was helped
by his able son Skandagupta (455 – 467 CE) who was the last of
the sovereign rulers of the Gupta Dynasty. He also succeeded in
preventing the invasion of the Huns (Hephthalites).
Skandagupta was a great scholar and wise ruler. For the well
being of the denizens he carried out several construction works
including the rebuilding of a dam on Sudarshan Lake, Gujarat.
But these were the last of the glory days of the empire.
 Cont.
After Skandagupta’s death the dynasty became embroiled with domestic
conflicts. The rulers lacked the capabilities of the earlier emperors to rule
over such a large kingdom. This resulted in a decline in law and order. They
were continuously plagued by the attacks of the Huns and other foreign
powers. This put a dent in the economic well-being of the empire. On top
of this, the kings remained more occupied with self-indulgence than in
preparing to meet with the challenges of their enemies. The inept
ministers and administrative heads also followed suit. Notably, after the
defeat and capture of Mihirakula, one of the most important Hephthalite
emperors of the time, Gupta King Baladitya set him free on the advice of
his ministers. The Huns came back to haunt the empire later and finally
drew the curtains on this illustrious empire in circa 550. The following lines
of King Sudraka’s Mricchakatika (The Little Clay Cart) aptly sum up the rise
and fall in the fortune of the Gupta Dynasty.
 The Golden Age of India

The prosperity of the Gupta Empire produced a golden age of

cultural and scientific advancements.
The prosperity created under the leadership of the Gupta
Empire, which covered much of the Indian subcontinent from
approximately 320-550 CE, enabled the wide pursuit of
scientific and artistic endeavors. This period became known as
the Golden Age of India because it was marked by extensive
inventions and discoveries in science, technology, engineering,
art, dialectic, literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy,
religion, and philosophy. These discoveries crystallized
elements of what is generally considered Hindu culture.
Cont.
Queen Kumaradevi and King Chandragupta I: A coin from the period of Indian
Emperor Samudragupta, 335-380 CE, depicting his parents, King Chandragupta
and Queen Kumaradevi.
One of the most curious structures in Delhi, India (an iron pillar dating back to the 4th century CE) bears
an inscription stating that it was erected as a flagstaff in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu, and in memory
of Chandragupta II. The pillar, made of 98% wrought iron, is considered a highlight of ancient Indian
achievements in metallurgy; it has stood more than 1,600 years without rusting or decomposing.
Krishna and Radha playing Chaturanga: Scholars during the reign of Chandragupta II
contributed many scientific advancements in the fields of astronomy, mathematics,
and medicine.
The Dashavatara Temple: The Golden Age of India produced many temples, decorated
with various sculptures and paintings, such as the Dashavatara Temple, also known as
the Vishnu Temple, in central India.
Coin of Kumaragupta I: A silver coin from the reign of Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta I,
c. 415-455 CE.
Coin of Skandagupta: A coin emblazoned with the image of Gupta Dynasty Emperor
Skandagupta, who ruled c. 455-467 CE.