The Gupta age of the 4th century A.D. is regarded as the golden age of ancient India. The achievements of the Gupta age is compre- hensively narrated in the Allahabad Prasasti, composed by poet Harisena. The history of Gupta age in written in golden letters because it saw a complete political unification of India. Samudra Gupta was the greatest conqueror of this phase - who is branded as the Napoleon of India. From the day of his accession, he pursued an aggressive imperialist policy and conquered as many as three kingdoms of North India during his Aryavarta-I campaign, nine kingdoms of North Indian during Aryavarta-II and twelve kingdoms of south India during his Dakshinavarta war. Besides, the Allahabad Prasasti also gives the account of five frontier kingdoms and nine tribes which paid tribute to Samudra Gupta and offered their allegiance. Four foreign rulers including Sinhala also paid homage to Samudra Gupta and offered the hands of their daughters as gifts to Samudra Gupta as a mark of their allegiance. As such Samudra Gupta brought political unification of India and declared himself  as  “Rajachakravartini”. In the early part, Samudra Gupta followed a policy of ‘Digvijaya’ according to which he defeated his enemies and annexed their kingdoms while in the later phase he pursued a policy of ‘Dharmavijaya’, according to which he defeated his enemies but did not annex their kingdoms rather accepted their suzerainty.

Although Samudra Gupta followed the principle that ‘annexing kingdoms was the business of kings’, he was never treated as a naked imperialist for the fact that he was guided by the ‘Dharmasastras’ which preached the conception of a united India. The effort to bring it under one imperial umbrella was considered as a meritorious job. Further, he was not only a ‘Digvijayi’ but a ‘Dharmavijayi’ too. The annexed kingdoms were given the benefits of Gupta law and administration. They could share the peace and prosperity of Gupta empire. This unification ultimately augmented the cultural and intellectual boom of the period.

Samudra Gupta’s one-India policy was further re-inforced by his son Chandra Gupta-II. Samudra Gupta had extended his frontiers east and south ward. Chandra Gupta-II’s greatest achievements was the conquest of western India- the regions of Malwa, Gujrat and Kathiawar by defeating Sakas. Further he consolidated and stabilized the expanded empire he inherited. He completed the process of unification of India by invading the western part. Now  the land between Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea came under one political sky.

Skandha Gupta was another great warrior and ruler of this period who made an all out effort to defend the territories he inherited from his forefathers. After Skandha Gupta the Gupta empire began to decline.

There was a remarkable illumination of Indian culture and civilization in the Gupta Age. In the field of knowledge, art and culture there was an exceptional progress which compelled the historians to compare Gupta Age with other great periods of world history like the Periclean age of Greece and the Elizabethan period of England. In this classical period, the Indian culture, art, sculpture and civilization reached its apogee. The Gupta Age has seen a tremendous progress in the field of literature. It was  a phase of revival of Sanskrit which became the chief vehicle of literary upsurge. The Guptas extended a vigorous patronage to Sanskrit and adopted it as the lingua-franka. Prakrit literature also flourished during Gupta Age. Kalidasa, Panini, Patanjali, Barahmihira Charaka, Susruta,Vishnu Sharma and Aryavatta all belonged to Gupta Era. The famous ‘Navaratna’which adorned the court of Chandra Gupta II were nine gems of Indian history. They included Kalidas, Betalabhatta,Ghatakarpara, Sanku,Amar Sinh,Vararuchi, Kshepanakshya, Barahamihira and Dhanwantari.

The Gupta period also saw a great transformation in Hinduism and Buddhism. It marked the integration of various heterogeneous creeds like Saivism, Vaishnavism and Shakti cult with Brahminical Hinduism. The rise of neo-Hinduism or Puranic Hinduism of multi-cult tolerance was the most significant development of this period which continues till today. The three Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara connected with creation, maintenance and destruction respectively were united together as a trinity. The growth of Bhakti-cult also developed during this period.

In the field of architecture, sculpture, painting and other art forms, Gupta Age can be termed as the most creative period of Indian history. It saw a culmination of new style in these areas. The idea represented was mostly secular. The social life of Gupta Age was happy and self contented. Public morality was high and criminal activities was negligible. Vegetarian foods were preferred and drinking habit was rare. Joint family was the order of day. Women and elders were duly respected. There was adequate opportunities for amusement like dance, drama, music and sports. Education was given high importance during Gupta Age. Nalanda became a world famous University during this period. The Gupta period witnessed great prosperity in the field of trade, agriculture and industry. Gupta Age saw a boom in each and every area – politics, society, art, culture, religion, architecture, law, literature, science, philosophy, economy and astronomy. It is rightly called the Golden phase of Indian history.