How lack of permanent armed force became a source of weakness for the Guptas? What economic factors were responsible for the fall of the Guptas? – Answered

a. Source of Weakness:

Unlike the Mauryas the Guptas had no permanent armed forces at the command of the king.

The Gupta kings relied upon the supply of soldiers, at the time of need, by the feudal lords or dependant kings. The result of such dependants was disastrous for the security of the Gupta Empire.

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With the weakening of the central authority the feudal lords hardly responded to the call of the king for the supply of armed forces.

This was a major weakness from which the Guptas suffered. Indeed, this was one of the reasons for the fall of the Gupta Empire.

b. Economic Factors:

The collapse of the Gupta Empire can never be explained without a reference to the economic decline.

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The revenue income of the government was considerably reduced under the later Gupta rulers as a result of the large scale land grants made by the Gupta emperors.

The decline of the Guptas is indicated by the supply of small quantity of coins of common use. Towards the end of the Gupta rule gold or silver coins were not in circulation.

Copper coins of the period were few. Again with the fall of the Roman Empire the commercial links with the empire also declined.

Export of Indian goods stopped, consequently inflow of gold and silver was no longer there.

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Thus decline of trade and commerce as also insufficient revenue income were responsible for the decline of the Gupta Empire.