The people of the Gupta Empire lived in an age of amazing progress and discovery. The wonders of the Golden Age included great art and architecture. They also included great ideas.
In most other places during this time, leaders spent their energy and money waging wars with other countries. Why? Because they wanted to gain riches and land. The Gupta emperors were different. They supported great artists, writers, and thinkers. Their government was well organized. It allowed the people to live well and feel secure.
The Chinese Buddhist scholar and traveler Faxian visited India during the time of Chandragupta II. He wrote about the freedom and good government the people there enjoyed. Taxes were low. And punishment for crime was mild. The people seemed happy. Why? Because the emperor paid his workers. He also provided hospitals and support for the poor. Faxian admired that Buddhism was respected, too, even though the emperor was a Hindu.
