Certain time periods have been termed as Golden periods in the Indian history, based on the achievements
Indians made in the fields of
science, technology,
engineering,
art,
dialectic,
literature,
logic,
mathematics,
astronomy,
religion and
philosophy during those periods.
Ancient India
The period between the 3rd century and 6th century
CE is known as the
Golden Age of India because of the large achievements
Indians made in the fields of
science, technology,
engineering,
art,
dialectic,
literature,
logic,
mathematics,
astronomy,
religion and
philosophy during the
Gupta Empire. The
decimal numeral system, including the concept of
zero, was invented in India during this period. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors in India. The
Golden Age in India came to an end when the
Hunas invaded the Gupta Empire in the 6th century CE. It was also started by a ruler named
Chandra Gupta I (not related to his earlier Mauryan namesake).
The Golden Age of India saw achievements that are in many regards similar to the
Ancient Greeks.
Guptas made novel advances in the sciences, astronomy (Gupta philosophers proposed that the earth was not flat, but was instead round and rotated on an axis by viewing a lunar eclipses and discoveries about gravity and the planets of the solar system, which they used to tell the horoscopes), mathematics (the invention of zero,
chess and
decimal numeral system), literature (
Ramayana and
Mahabharata,
Hitopadesha,
Panchatantra,
Kama Sutra and other works), architecture, and religion.
South India
South India in the 10th and 11th century CE under the imperial
Cholas is considered as another Golden Age. The period saw extensive achievements in Dravidian
architecture,
Tamil literature, sculpture and bronze working, quasi-democratic reforms, maritime conquests and trade.
The Cholas left a lasting legacy. Their patronage of Tamil literature and their zeal in building temples have resulted in some great works of Tamil literature and architecture. The Chola kings were avid builders and envisioned the temples in their kingdoms not only as places of worship but also as centres of economic activity. They pioneered a centralised form of government and established a disciplined bureaucracy.
