<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Today part of </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> India </Li> <Li> Pakistan </Li> <Li> Bangladesh </Li> <Li> Nepal </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> India </Li> <Li> Pakistan </Li> <Li> Bangladesh </Li> <Li> Nepal </Li> </Ul> <P> The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire, existing from approximately 240 to 590 CE . At its zenith from approximately 319 to 550 CE it covered much of the Indian subcontinent . This period is called the Golden Age of India . The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by Sri Gupta; the most notable rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II . The 5th - century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits the Guptas with having conquered about twenty - one kingdoms, both in and outside India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, the Hunas, the Kambojas, tribes located in the west and east Oxus valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others . </P> <P> The high points of this period are the great cultural developments which took place during the reign of Chandragupta II . All literary sources, such as Mahabharata and Ramayana, were canonised during this period . The Gupta period produced scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Vishnu Sharma and Vatsyayana who made great advancements in many academic fields . Science and political administration reached new heights during the Gupta era . The period gave rise to achievements in architecture, sculpture, and painting that "set standards of form and taste (that) determined the whole subsequent course of art, not only in India but far beyond her borders". Strong trade ties also made the region an important cultural center and established the region as a base that would influence nearby kingdoms and regions in Burma, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia . The Puranas, earlier long poems on a variety of subjects, are also thought to have been committed to written texts around this period . </P>

Who is considered founder of the gupta empire