Focus Question 3:
What are the achievements in Indian culture relating to literature, arts, astronomy, math, and medicine?
India entered a period of time with great achievements in literature, arts, astronomy, math, and medicine from 500 B.C. to 540 A.D.
Literature:
Kalidasa was the court poet for Chandra Gupta II, and India's greatest writer. His most well-known play was the Abhijnana Shakuntala, the third and last part of the Mahabharata. The Tamils from Southern India also had a rich literary tradition. Additionally, traveling troupes of actors put on performances combining drama and classical dance forms.
Astronomy:
Knowledge of astronomy increases as trade increased, because sailors on the trade ships used stars to help navigate. Indians adapted modern methods of keeping time:
Mathematics:
Many revolutionary concepts in mathematics were first invented in India during the Gupta Empire. For example:
Medicine:
Literature:
Kalidasa was the court poet for Chandra Gupta II, and India's greatest writer. His most well-known play was the Abhijnana Shakuntala, the third and last part of the Mahabharata. The Tamils from Southern India also had a rich literary tradition. Additionally, traveling troupes of actors put on performances combining drama and classical dance forms.
Astronomy:
Knowledge of astronomy increases as trade increased, because sailors on the trade ships used stars to help navigate. Indians adapted modern methods of keeping time:
- using a solar calendar
- having seven days for a week
- dividing the day into 24 hours.
Mathematics:
Many revolutionary concepts in mathematics were first invented in India during the Gupta Empire. For example:
- zero
- decimals
- pi
- Arabic numerals
Medicine:
- Medical guides were written around this time which described over 1,000 diseases and 500 medicinal plants.
- Physicians even performed surgery and gave injections.