Final answer:
The Gupta Empire reached its largest size under Emperor Samudragupta, who expanded the empire's territory through conquests and was also a patron of the arts and sciences. Option c is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gupta Empire's Greatest Size
The Gupta Empire reached its greatest territorial extent under the reign of Emperor Samudragupta. Although Chandragupta Maurya founded the earlier Mauryan Empire, and Ashoka the Great was known for his role in promoting Buddhism and expanding the Mauryan Empire, it was Samudragupta of the Gupta Dynasty who engaged in significant conquests. Samudragupta, the son of Maharaja Sri Gupta, inherited an already stable and prosperous state. His military campaigns pushed the boundaries of the empire to include all of present-day India and parts of neighboring countries, effectively creating a large and powerful territory.
His achievements in expanding the Gupta Empire were not limited to military conquest; Samudragupta was also a patron of the arts and sciences. This period of Indian history is known for advancements in literature, astronomy, mathematics, and the arts, earning the Gupta period the title of a Golden Age. It was under Samudragupta's reign that the empire truly flourished and achieved its greatest size, surpassing the achievements of Chandragupta II, known for cultural and economic prosperity.
In this historical context, the correct answer is option (c) Samudragupta.