Kushan Empire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kushan Empire
30–375
Kushan territories (full line) and maximum extent of Kushan dominions under Kanishka (dotted line), according to the Rabatak inscription.
Capital	Peshawar Begram Taxila Mathura
Common languages	Pali Prakrit Bactrian Sanskrit Greek
Religion	Hinduism Buddhism Zoroastrianism Greco-Buddhism Ancient Greek religion
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• c. 60-c. 80	Kujula Kadphises
• 350–375	Kipunada
Historical era	Classical Antiquity
• Kujula Kadphises unites Yuezhi tribes into a confederation.	30
• Subjugated by the Gupta Empire.	375
Currency	Kushan Drachm
Preceded by Succeeded by Maurya Empire Indo-Scythians Gupta Empire Sassanid Empire
Today part of	Afghanistan  India  Iran  Pakistan  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan

The Kushan Empire was first formed in the early 1st century AD. It was in eastern and northern Afghanistan and the north-west of India.

The Kushan were a branch of the Yuezhi confederation. Previously a nomadic people living in eastern Central Asia, the Yuezhi moved southwest and settled in ancient Bactria.

Images for kids

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  Yuezhi nobleman and priest over a fire altar. Noin-Ula.

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  The ethnonym "KOϷ ϷANO" (Koshshano, "Kushan") in Greek alphabet (with the addition of the letter Ϸ, "Sh") on a coin of the first known Kushan ruler Heraios (1st century AD).

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  Greek alphabet (narrow columns) with Kushan script (wide columns)

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  Early gold coin of Kanishka I with Greek language legend and Hellenistic divinity Helios. (c. AD 120). Obverse: Kanishka standing, clad in heavy Kushan coat and long boots, flames emanating from shoulders, holding a standard in his left hand, and making a sacrifice over an altar. Greek legend:ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΚΑΝΗϷΚΟΥ Basileus Basileon Kanishkoy "[Coin] of Kanishka, king of kings".Reverse: Standing Helios in Hellenistic style, forming a benediction gesture with the right hand. Legend in Greek script:ΗΛΙΟΣ HeliosKanishka monogram (tamgha) to the left.

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  Kushan territories (full line) and maximum extent of Kushan control under Kanishka the Great. The extent of Kushan control is notably documented in the Rabatak inscription. The northern expansion into the Tarim Basin is mainly suggested by coin finds and Chinese chronicles.

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  Map showing the four empires of Eurasia in the 2nd century AD. "For a time, the Kushan Empire was the centerpoint of the major civilizations".

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  Eastern reach as far as Bengal: Samatata coinage of king Vira Jadamarah, in imitation of the Kushan coinage of Kanishka I. The text of the legend is a meaningless imitation. Bengal, circa 2nd-3rd century AD.

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  Kumara/Kartikeya with a Kushan devotee, 2nd century AD

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  Kushan prince, said to be Huvishka, making a donation to a Boddhisattva.

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  Shiva Linga worshipped by Kushan devotees, circa 2nd century AD

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  The Ahin Posh stupa was dedicated in the 2nd century AD under the Kushans, and contained coins of Kushan and Roman Emperors.

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  Early Mahayana Buddhist triad. From left to right, a Kushan devotee, Maitreya, the Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and a Buddhist monk. 2nd–3rd century, Gandhara

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  the portrait of the prince]] from Khalchayan. Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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  Greco-Roman gladiator on a glass vessel, Begram, 2nd century

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  Mahasena on a coin of Huvishka

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  Four-faced Oesho

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  Rishti or Riom

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  Manaobago

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  Pharro

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  Ardochsho

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  Oesho or Shiva

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  Oesho or Shiva with bull

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  Skanda and Visakha

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  Kushan Carnelian seal representing the "ΑΔϷΟ" (adsho Atar), with triratana symbol left, and Kanishka the Great's dynastic mark right

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  Coin of Kanishka I, with a depiction of the Buddha and legend "Boddo" in Greek script

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  Herakles.

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  Buddha

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  Coin of Vima Kadphises. Deity Oesho on the reverse, thought to be Shiva, or the Zoroastrian Vayu.

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  Kanishka I: Kosambi Bodhisattva, inscribed "Year 2 of Kanishka" (AD 129).

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  Kanishka I: Bala Bodhisattva, Sarnath, inscribed "Year 3 of Kanishka" (AD 130).

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  Kanishka I: "Kimbell seated Buddha", with inscription "Year 4 of Kanishka" (AD 131). Another similar statue has "Year 32 of Kanishka".

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  Kanishka I: Buddha from Loriyan Tangai with inscription mentioning the "year 318" of the Yavana era (AD 143).

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  Vasudeva I: Hashtnagar Buddha and its piedestal, inscribed with "year 384" of the Yavana era (c. AD 209).

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  Vasudeva I: Mamane Dheri Buddha, inscribed with "Year 89", probably of the Kanishka era (AD 216).

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  Kanishka II: Statue of Hariti from Skarah Dheri, Gandhara, "Year 399" of the Yavana era (AD 244).

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  Shiva-Oesho wall painting with fragment of a worshipper, Bactria, 3rd century AD.

See also

In Spanish: Imperio kushán para niños