Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
There were different causes for the downfall of the Gupta Empire. Which one among the statements given below was not the cause?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Concept
Historical causality requires aligning specific threats with the timeframe of an empire's existence. Anachronistic events cannot be cited as causes for an earlier collapse.Explanation
The Arab invasion (Option D) occurred in the 7th and 8th centuries CE (e.g., Sindh in 712 CE), which was well after the Gupta Empire had already declined in the 6th century CE.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Huna Invasion (Option A): This was a primary external cause; Huna attacks exhausted the treasury and military resources.
Logic 2: Feudal Set-up (Option B): The practice of land grants created powerful local lords who eventually asserted independence, weakening central control.
Logic 3: Religious Shifts (Option C): Later Gupta rulers' patronage of Buddhism alienated the traditionally Vaishnavite social base and weakened the martial spirit of the dynasty.