How did India’s golden period decline?

From 319 to 467 CE was known as the golden period at its culmination in the reign of the Gupta
Empire. The Gupta dynasty was an ancient Indian empire that existed from the early 4th century
CE to the late 6th century CE. During the Gupta empire’s peak period it covered much of the
Indian subcontinent. This period is designated as the Golden Age or period in Indian antiquity by
historians. The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by king Sri Gupta. Throughout the
prominent era of the Gupta line, India was flourishing. Mahabharata and Ramayana and many
other Hindu epics and legend sources were authorized and glorified during this period. Many
significant scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, and Vatsyayana were produced
who made great advancements in many academic fields. Various principles of geometry, an area
of a triangle, the area of a circle, and the theorem relating to rectangles were explained by
Aryabhatta. Brahmagupta was also a famous mathematician, he wrote ‘Brahmsiddhanta’ in A.D.
628. He developed rules for operating with negative qualities and with zero. He began to apply
Algebra to astronomical problems, Jyotisa was an ancient term used for astronomy and astrology.
Varahamihira wrote ‘Panchasiddhantika in A.D. 505. During the Gupta era, science and political
administration were made more efficient and coherent. This period gave rise to achievements in
architecture, sculpture, and painting. Strong trade ties also made the region an important cultural
and vibrant center.

After the 8th Gupta emperor -Skandagupta's death, the empire lost its popularity was clearly in
decline, and many coins and texts indicate their loss of control over much of western India after
467–469 CE. Skandagupta was followed by Purugupta, Kumaragupta II, Budhagupta,
Narasimhagupta, Kumaragupta III, Vishnugupta, Vainyagupta, and Bhanugupta.

As the Gupta Dynasty lost its emperors in the year of 480s the Alchon Huns under Toramana and
Mihirakula broke through the Gupta defenses in the northwest region of their reign, taking it over
and ruling the region till 500. From inscriptions and texts, it indicates that the Guptas, although
their power was much declined, continued to resist the Huns. In the time span of 510 CE - 530
CE the Hun invader Toramana was defeated and driven out of India by King Yashodharman from
Malwa.

This invasion, which was only at its peak for a few decades had long-term effects on India, and
its Golden Period. This annexation brought Indian civilization to an end. Following the
invasions, northern India was left in disarray, with numerous smaller Indian regions emerging as
new independent kingdoms after the crumbling of the Guptas. The Huna invasion is said to have
seriously damaged India's civilization as well as trade with Europe and Central Asia which the
Gupta dynasty had good relations. The Guptas had been exporting products such as silk, leather
goods, fur, iron products, ivory, pearl, pepper, and other numerous luxury products from trade
centers. Great centers of learning were destroyed, such as the city of Takshsheela, bringing a
cultural threat.

The succession end of the 6th-century Guptas is not entirely clear, but the tail end emperor
recognized ruler of the Gupta dynasty mainline was king Vishnugupta (540-550 CE), where we
found the last known inscription from the Gupta dynasty. The last known inscription by a Gupta
emperor is from the reign of Vishnugupta. A study done by archaeologist Shanker Sharma in
2019 states that the cause of the Gupta empire's downfall was a devastating flood that happened
around the middle of the 6th century in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar which caused great economic
depression and poor conditions. A philosophical conclusion to the Gupta Dynasty’s declination
can be said that internal fighting and dissensions among the royal family led to its weakening.