Pepared by

Mallika Datta
Ancient Bengal Lecturer at EDS
(UIU)
Ancient Bengal
Gupta
Pal
Sen
• No one can determine the exact time when people started
living in this place.

Time period
According to historians the time period of ancient age is-
• 500 BC to 1300 AD
• 500 BC to 600 AD
 Ancient Bengal

Many great dynasties have

ruled Bengal.

The most notable of these

are the Maurya, Gupta, Pala,
Rata, Chandra, Dev,
Kharagada, Burma, and Sen
dynasties.
 Gupta
The Guptas emerged from
the fall of the Mauryas.

Gupta empire located in

some parts of northern and
central and western India.

Time Period: from the 4th

century till the end of the
6th century.
 Golden Period
It is known as the Golden Age of
India because of the
considerable achievements in
the fields of mathematics, • They were the first to
astronomy, science, religion, and use algebra
• Develop the idea of
philosophy during the Gupta zero
Empire. • Explain the concept of
infinity.
 Rulers of Gupta Period
• Sri Gupta (240-280 ACE.): He is the first ruler who ruled over a minor
kingdom.

• His son Ghatotkacha Gupta

• Chandra Gupta I (320-335 or 340 BCE.): He is known as the main
founder of the Gupta dynasty. He assumed the title of
Maharajadhiraja. In his ruling life, he succeeded in raising the power
and prestige of his dynasty. He started gold coins. Bihar and a part of
Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad were included in his empire.
 Rulers of Gupta Period
Samudra Gupta (335–375 CE): Samudra Gupta was a great
general and conqueror.
Titles: Maharajadhiraja and Vikramanka.
Ruling area: He created a big empire. His empire included
almost the whole of Northern India.

Notable works: He protected his empire from foreign enemies,

maintained peace within its frontiers, and helped in its progress.
Samudra Gupta possessed not only a powerful army but also a
strong navy.
 Rulers of Gupta Period
Chandra Gupta II Vikramaditya (Nearly 380-413 or 415
A.D.):
Chandra Gupta was the son of Samudra Gupta.

Some scholars have identified him with Chandra Gupta

Vikramaditya of Ujjayini of Indian legends whose court is said
to have been adorned by nine scholars (Navaratna) of repute
including Kalidasa.
 Nalanda (427-1197)
One of the first universities in the world, Nalanda University, was
established by Kumaragupta of the Gupta dynasty. Many kings
and scholars contributed to it as well. The facility included 10
temples, 8 distinct compounds, meditation rooms, classrooms,
lakes, and parks. In its nine-story library, monks copied books and
other materials so that each scholar can have their collections.

At its peak, the University housed 10,000 students in dorms, which

may have been a first for an educational institution, along with
2,000 professors.
 Nalanda
The primary teaching focus was Mahayana
Buddhism, but other secular subjects like
grammar, logic, epistemology, and sciences.
 Shashanka (600 ad and 625 ad)
the king of Gauda

 Shashanka was the first important king of ancient Bengal,

who occupied a prominent place in Bengal history.

 Historians provide information about shashank from two dated

inscriptions, issued in his 8th and 10th ruling years
from Midnapore, and another undated
inscription from Kharagpur.
 Shashanka (600 ad and 625 ad) the king of
Gauda

Extending political influence: The ruler Shashanka first established himself in

Gaura, the north-western region of Bengal, and made Kornosubora in
Murshidabad his capital.

Then he gradually extended his rule in Bihar.

The contribution of Shashanka in the history of Bengal was that he defended the
independence of the Gaura empire against a very powerful northern Indians
powers.
 Shashanka (600 ad and 625 ad) the king of
Gauda
Art & Architecture of Shashanka Dynasty: The archaeological site of Kolkata
found a number of structures include the base of several square and circular
stupas, remains of square rooms (probably classrooms or rooms where the
students put up), remnants of two walls (possibly the boundary of the
capital). He build a massive dighi (lake) measuring over 140 acres. That is
nearly equal to the total area of 80 football fields. He developed
metropolitan city ideas.

Bengali Calender: Shashanka, is credited with creating the Bengali calendar.

The term Bangabda (Bangla year) is found too in two Shiva temples many
centuries older than Akbar era, suggesting that a Bengali calendar existed
long before Akbar's time.
 Matsyanyayan (650-750)
 Matsayanyam, a Sanskrit term, refers to a situation when
big fish swallows a small fish.
 After the death of Shashanka, the Bengal was
overwhelmed by repeated foreign invasions,
the most notable of which was the invasion of
Yashovarman of Kanauj (725-752 ACE).

 During that time, one government cannot be

stable for a long time. This period is called the
Matsyanyayan.
Rise of Palas
• Pala kings put an end to
the disorder.
• ‘Pala’ means protector.
• Ruled for 400 years! (Mid 8th-late
11th Century)
• Followers of Buddhism
Rise of Palas
Dharmapala
(c 781-821 Dharmapala was a devout
ACE) Buddhist and a great patron of
Buddhism. He is the son of the
Devapala Gopala. He had credited the
(c 821-861 foundation the Vikramasila
ACE): Mahavihara. Which is an
important place for Buddhists
in India. Somapura
Mahavihara was founded by
Dharmapala.
Dharmapala
(c 770-810
ACE)

Devapala
(c 810-850
ACE)
These two rulers Increased
their empires in northern and
western Bengal and Bihar.
 • They improved upon the
Pala administrative structure developed by
Gupta Empire.
Administration:
• They could govern for so long
because they had a strong
administration system.

• Well-designed structure spanning

from the center to the rural areas
prevailed during this period.
• Long list of state officials have been
found on sources from Pala period.
Religious
Tolerance • The most glorious aspect of Pala's rule
was their policy of public welfare. The
Pala rulers were Buddhists, but the
majority of their subjects were Hindus.
Dharmapala had adopted the policy of
religious toleration as the state policy.
This policy was followed by his
successors.
Spread of • This region became the hub of
Buddhism Buddhist teaching.
• Many came from different corners
of the world.
• Buddhism spread to areas like
Myanmar, Indonesia, etc.
• Viharas or monasteries became
center of excellence.
• Nalanda university was revived.
Education
The Dharmapala created the Somapura
Mahavihara at Paharpur, the Vikramasila
Mahavihara, Odantpur Vihara in Bihar.

Somapura Vihara and Vikramasila Vihara

were acknowledged in the Buddhist world as
two important centers.
Terracotta
&
Sculpture
The terracotta plaques from Paharpur
Vihara represent the Pala dynasty. Of all the
arts of the period sculptural art witnessed
phenomenal development.

In the Pala ruler's time, there are a school

named ‘Pala School of Sculptural Art’.
Literature

Sanskrit language and poetry

developed during the Pala rule. The
Abhinanda and the famous
Gaudapadakarika were written
poets at that time.
Sena
(11th -12th
century)

The Sena Empire was a Hindu dynasty that

ruled from Bengal through the 11th and early
13th centuries.
 The empire at its peak covered much of the
Sena
north-eastern region of the Indian
subcontinent.
The rulers of the Sena Dynasty traced their
origin to the south Indian region of Karnataka
of the Deccan. According to some, they were

-Brahmakhatryia

-Khatrya
 The founder of Sena Dynasty
Samanta Sena was the founder of the dynasty.

Hemanta Sena proclaimed himself king in 1095 AD, and came after
Samanta. His successor, Vijaya Sena, had an unusually long reign
of more than 60 years and contributed to establishing the dynasty.

Ballala Sena expelled the Pala from Gaur, took control of the
Bengal Delta, and established Nadia as its capital.

After succeeding Ballala Sena in 1179, Lakshmana Sena governed

Bengal for almost 20 years. He expanded the Sena Empire to
include Odisha, Bihar, and likely Varanasi.
 Sen Administration
In general, the Pala system of government was
maintained under the Senas of Bengal. Even
during the Senas, there were still administrative
divisions such as Bhuktis, Vishayas, Mandals,
etc.

Evidence shows that the Sena monarchs gave

their Queen or Rajmahishi land concessions.

The Purohitas and Mahapurohitas were also

granted land through official grants.
 Literatute
Lakshmanasena's rule is notable for
encouraging a lot of literary activity.
He had a strong Vaishnava faith.

At his court, Jayadeva, a well-known

Bengali Vaishnava poet and the writer
of the Gita Govinda resided.
 Religion
The birth of orthodox Hinduism is
typically linked to the rule of the Senas
of Bengal.

This is when it is thought that the

persecution of Buddhists in Bengal
began, which led to a mass exodus of
Buddhists to nearby nations.
Thank You