Emergence of Kushan Empire and its consolidation
Yueh-chi and Hiung-ni were two factions of the tribal movement, which came about as a result of a series of tribal movements that began in central Asia. One fraction of Yueh-chi was split into sections, i.e., Little Yueh-chi and Great Yueh-chi. The Great Yueh-chi was split into two principalities, and the Kuei-shang became one of the principalities that went east and consolidated their control over the Indus Valley and the Mathura region. The Kushana Empire began as a central Asian kingdom, with Bactria being the center of this empire. Kujula Kadphises, in the early 1st century C.E., amalgamated the five principalities and laid the foundation of a unified Kushana empire. His son Vima Kadphises went on to rule independently, conquer Kandahar from the Parthians, and control the Indus Valley.
The Kushana empire consisted of various tiers of control. Some areas are under the direct control of the kings, and others are under subordinate rulers with the title kshtrapa or mahakshatrapa. Some of the subordinate rulers merely acknowledged Kushana paramountcy and paid tribute. Others, such as the Kshatrapa Chastana, recognized the suzerainty of the Kushana emperor but remained more or less autonomous.
Kushan Empire
Kushan Empire: The Kushanas (Kuei-shang) Empire was one of the five Great Yueh-chi principalities and was part of a series of tribal movements that began in Central Asia. The Kushana Empire was unified and founded by Kujuka Kadphises in the early 1st century C.E., and this empire continued to reign until 230 C.E. The empire expanded into the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent, establishing control over the Indus Valley and the Mathura region.
The empire reached its zenith during the reign of Kanishka. The empire developed its notion of kinship and acknowledged the religious diversity that existed within the empire. Historians have referred to various archaeological and literary sources to understand the importance of this empire and its contribution to shaping ancient Indian history.
Read below to learn about the Kushana Empire in depth.
Table of Content
- Emergence of Kushan Empire and its consolidation
- Kushan Empire and its expansion under Kanishka
- Significance of the Kushana Empire
- Successors of Kanishka and the Decline of the Empire
- Literary and archaeological sources of Kushana Empire
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