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Kushan Empire

Type Object Region Central Asia Time c. 1–500

The Kushan Empire was one of the most important empires of Central and South Asia from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE, with rulers such as Kujula Kadphi…

Timeline

  1. c. 1–100Bactria · BactriaAround the turn of the era, Kujula Kadphises of the Kushan branch of the Yuezhi unified the five tribes, establishing the Kushan Empire, controlling territory from south of the Amu Darya to northwestern India, and beginning to issue Hellenistic-style gold coins while absorbing local administrative traditions.
  2. c. 100–250Purushapura · PurushapuraDuring Kanishka's reign the empire's territory reached its peak, with its capital at Purushapura; he sponsored the Fourth Buddhist Council, and Silk Road trade and the northward spread of Buddhism flourished as never before, with indirect contacts maintained with Rome and the Han dynasty.
  3. c. 250–500Kushan successor states in Central Asia · Central AsiaAfter the 3rd century the Kushans fragmented into several small kingdoms but still controlled parts of the Silk Road; the Gandharan tradition of Buddhist art continued until new powers such as the Hephthalites reshaped Central Asia in the 5th century.

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