Kushans

The Kushans, or Kushan Empire, were a syncretic political entity formed by the Yuezhi in the Bactrian region (roughly modern Afghanistan) in the 1st century CE. They established a large, multiethnic realm that at its height stretched from parts of Central Asia across the Gandhara and Punjab regions into the Mathura area of northern India. The Kushan state emerged under Kujula Kadphises, who consolidated Yuezhi groups and began expanding their influence to the west and east.

Vima Kadphises expanded the empire further, uniting much of the territory and introducing a system of coinage that blended Greek, Bactrian, and Indian elements. The empire reached its greatest territorial extent under Kanishka the Great (r. c. 127–150 CE), who promoted Buddhism, supported cultural and scientific exchanges, and presided over a flourishing period of trade along the Silk Road. Under Kanishka, the Kushans exercised influence over a vast area, linking Central Asia with the Indian subcontinent.

Administration and culture were characterized by a high degree of bilingual and multicultural integration. Coins commonly bore Greek or Brahmi legends, reflecting the cross-cultural milieu. The Kushans patronized Buddhist art and institutions, contributing to the Gandhara style that fused Greco‑Roman artistic motifs with Indian iconography, while also interacting with Hindu and other religious traditions. The empire facilitated trade routes that connected the Hellenistic world, Rome, Parthia, and China, aiding the diffusion of Buddhism and commercial exchange.

Decline began in the 3rd century CE due to internal fragmentation and pressure from external powers such as the Sassanian Empire and successor groups. Eastern Kushan territories persisted in various forms as political entities in the region, leaving a lasting legacy in art, religion, and cross-cultural exchange.