After Mauryan period, several hectic and shifting political scenes, have taken place in central Asia and northwestern India.

1. DECEMBER 2015 | WWW.WISHESH.COMWWW.WISHESH.COM | DECEMBER 2015
82
Indian History Indian History
Kushan Dynasty
After Mauryan period, several
hectic and shifting political
scenes, have taken place in central
Asia and northwestern India.
The Great Yuehi-chi
had quit Western China
and migrated towards
the Aral Sea. There
they encountered the
Sakas near Syr Darya
river and evicted them.
The Great Yuehi-Chi tribes
have settled in the Oxus valley
and with the occupation of
the Bactrian lands, the great
hordes were divided into five
principalities.
After 100 years, the Kushan
section acquired huge
prominence, under the leadership
of Kadphises and then began
the history of Kushans.
Geographical location of Kushan
Dynasty
The Kushans empire’s geographical location,
made it a colossus astride on the spine of Asia,
uniting the Greco-Roman civilization in the west
the Chinese civilization in the east and Indian
civilization in the southeast.
Kushan Dynasty under the leadership of
Kadphises
Kadphises was the leader of the Kushans in 40
A.D. He attacked the south of Hindu Kush region,
conquered Kabul and annexed Gandhara, which
included the Taxila kingdom. When Kadphises
died in 77 A.D, the Kushans had supplanted the
princess, belonging to the Indo-Greek saka and
Indo-Parthian communities along the frontiers of
India.

2. DECEMBER 2015 | WWW.WISHESH.COMWWW.WISHESH.COM | DECEMBER 2015
84
Indian History
Kushan Dynasty under
Vima-Kadphises
Vima-Kadphises had been
the successor of Kadphises.
He conquered several parts
of northern India. Meanwhile,
the Chinese reasserted their
authority in the north and this
led to the collusion with the
Kushans.
The Chinese general
Pan-Chao had conquered
Chinese Turkistan, and thus
established, the Chinese
authority in Parthia, on
the south territory of the
Caspian sea.
Kushans were threatened by
these advances. Kadphises
II, had claimed the hand of
a Chinese princess in 87
AD, an acknowledgement
of his equality with the
son of Heaven. But the
proposal was rejected and
Kadphises, then dispatched
a large army. However, the
army was decimated because
of the difficult terrain and
was defeated easily, by the
Chinese.
Kushans gold
coins were of great
complexity
Gold coins issued by the
emperors entered in the fourth
century AD, Kushan dynasty’s
name was not heard again.
Kushan Dynasty under
Vima-Kadphises
Vima-Kadphises had been
the successor of Kadphises.
He conquered several parts
of northern India. Meanwhile,
the Chinese reasserted their
authority in the north and this
led to the collusion with the
Kushans.
The Chinese general Pan-
Chao had conquered
Chinese Turkistan, and thus
established, the Chinese
authority in Parthia, on the
south territory of the Caspian
sea.
Kushans were threatened by
these advances. Kadphises
II, had claimed the hand of
a Chinese princess in 87
AD, an acknowledgement
of his equality with the son
of Heaven. But the proposal
was rejected and Kadphises,
then dispatched a large
army. However, the army
was decimated because
of the difficult terrain and
was defeated easily, by the
Chinese.
Kushans gold
coins were of great
complexity
Kushans were of great
complexity. The coins exposes
the people’s prosperity, and
show the figure of Kanishka,
standing and sacrificing at altar
and deities, belonging to the
several religions.
The coins act as the
remembrance that, Kushans
were in direct contact with
the Romans. Gandhara art
is considered as the greatest
contribution of Kushan
Dynasty. Buddha and
Bodhisattavas’s stone images
were carved out and the chief
feature was blending of the
Buddhist subjects with Greek
forms.
Kushan Dynasty
imprints in J&L till
date
The imprints of Kushan
Gold coins issued by the
Kushans were of great
complexity. The coins exposes
the people’s prosperity, and
show the figure of Kanishka,
standing and sacrificing at altar
and deities, belonging to the
several religions.
The coins act as the
remembrance that, Kushans
were in direct contact with
the Romans. Gandhara art
is considered as the greatest
contribution of Kushan
Dynasty. Buddha and
Bodhisattavas’s stone images
were carved out and the chief
feature was blending of the
Buddhist subjects with Greek
forms.
Kushan Dynasty
imprints in J&L till
date
The imprints of Kushan
Dynasty are still found in
Jammu & Kashmir state, which
proves the effectiveness and
efficiency of Kushan’s ruling
in the place.
Kanishka I throne was
ascended by Huvishka. He
was the founder of a city
Hushka in Kashmir, named
after him (described by
Kalhan in Rajatarangini).
The Kushan empire was in
the zenith, during Kanishka’s
Dynasty are still found in
Jammu & Kashmir state, which
proves the effectiveness and
efficiency of Kushan’s ruling in
the place.
Kanishka I throne was
ascended by Huvishka. He
was the founder of a city
Hushka in Kashmir, named
after him (described by Kalhan
in Rajatarangini). The
Kushan empire was in the
zenith, during Kanishka’s
and Huvishka’s reign.
After Huvishka, Vasudeva
I led the Kushan dynasty.
In Indian culture, Kushan
dynasty had been totally
assimilated. Vasudeva I
was the last greatest king
of the dynasty, when the
Kushan empire saw new
heights in its prosperity.
But after the death of
Vasudeva, the Kushan
empire has started collapsing.
Kanishka II, the son of
Vasudeva, came to lead
dynasty, but had lost all
the territories. Vasudeva
II, Vashishka, and Shaka,
managed to rule Kushan
dynasty, after Kanishka
II.After Vashishka reign
was completed, the Kushan
Empire was disintegrated into
small kingdoms. When Gupta
and Huvishka’s reign. After
Huvishka, Vasudeva I led the
Kushan dynasty.
In Indian culture, Kushan
dynasty had been totally
assimilated. Vasudeva I was
the last greatest king of the
dynasty, when the Kushan
empire saw new heights in its
prosperity.
But after the death of
Vasudeva, the Kushan
empire has started collapsing.
Kanishka II, the son of
Vasudeva, came to lead
dynasty, but had lost all
the territories. Vasudeva
II, Vashishka, and Shaka,
managed to rule Kushan
dynasty, after Kanishka II.
After Vashishka reign was
completed, the Kushan Empire
was disintegrated into small
kingdoms. When Gupta
emperors entered in the fourth
century AD, Kushan dynasty’s
name was not heard again.
Indian History