Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
Harisena
Poet / writer
Gupta Empire
active c. 350 CE
Composer of Samudragupta's Prayaga (Allahabad) pillar inscription.
Their world
Move along the chart to see their age in any year, who ruled and what happened; click anything to open it.
The map shows Gupta Empire around their lifetime and where the events of their lifetime took place.
Hover a dot for the event; click it to open the full map in that year.
Rulers of the time
Kujula Kadphises
Emperor, Kushan Empire · c. 30 CE – c. 80 CE
Vima Taktu
Emperor, Kushan Empire · c. 80 CE – c. 95 CE
Chandragupta I
Maharajadhiraja, Gupta Empire · c. 319 CE – c. 335 CE
Samudragupta
Maharajadhiraja, Gupta Empire · c. 335 CE – c. 375 CE
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)
Maharajadhiraja, Gupta Empire · c. 375 CE – c. 415 CE
Gondophares I
King, Indo-Parthian Kingdom · c. 19 CE – c. 46 CE
Pravarasena I
Samrat, Vakataka Dynasty · c. 270 CE – c. 330 CE
Mayurasharma
King, Kadamba Dynasty · c. 345 CE – c. 365 CE
Events in their lifetime
| c. 320 CE | Chandragupta I marries the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi The alliance strengthened Gupta power in Magadha. |
| c. 335 CE | Samudragupta becomes emperor |
| c. 350 CE | Samudragupta's Prayaga prashasti |
| c. 380 CE | Gupta-Vakataka marriage alliance Secured the Gupta southern flank for the war against the Sakas. |
Contemporaries
Sorted by how long their lives overlapped. The bar shows when, within Harisena’s life.
Faxian
Traveller / envoy · c. 337 CE – c. 422 CE
Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who travelled through Gupta India
Overlap: 43 years
Kalidasa
Poet / writer · active c. 400 CE
Sanskrit poet-dramatist of Abhijnanashakuntalam and Meghaduta
Overlap: 10 years
Vishakhadatta
Poet / writer · active c. 400 CE
Author of the political drama Mudrarakshasa
Overlap: 10 years
📚 Recommended reading
Reference
A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India
The most complete modern textbook on ancient India, rich in sources, maps and archaeology.
Reference
Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300
An authoritative, interpretive history of early Indian society and states.
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