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Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
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Kushan Empire
Empire
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 30 CE – c. 375 CE
Central Asian empire at its height under Kanishka.
- Capital
- Purushapura / Mathura
- Region
- Northwest
- Duration
- 345 years
- Main period
- Kushan Empire
Changing extent
- c. 30 CE — ≈ 150,000 km²: Kujula Kadphises unites the Yuezhi: Bactria and Kabul
- c. 90 CE — ≈ 730,000 km²: Vima Kadphises: Gandhara, Punjab and Mathura
- c. 127 CE — ≈ 1,650,000 km²: Kanishka: Oxus to Pataliputra, Kashmir to Sanchi (Rabatak inscription)
- c. 230 CE — ≈ 470,000 km²: Sasanians take the west; Kushans hold Gandhara, Punjab and Mathura
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Kujula Kadphises Emperorc. 30 CE – c. 80 CEUnified the Yuezhi.
- Vima Taktu Emperorc. 80 CE – c. 95 CE
- Vima Kadphises Emperorc. 95 CE – c. 127 CEGold coinage.
- Kanishka I Emperorc. 127 CE – c. 150 CEFourth Buddhist Council; Gandhara and Mathura art.
- Huvishka Emperorc. 150 CE – c. 190 CE
- Vasudeva I Emperorc. 190 CE – c. 230 CELast great Kushan.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 30 CE | Kujula Kadphises unites the Kushans The five Yuezhi tribes were united under one ruler. |
Bactria-Gandhara |
| c. 127 CE | Kanishka's accession Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir during his reign. |
Purushapura |
| c. 230 CE | Sasanian conquest of the western Kushan lands Kushanshah governors ruled Bactria as Sasanian vassals. |
Bactria |
Personalities
Ashvaghosha
active c. 100 CE
Author of the Buddhacharita, at Kanishka's court
Charaka
active c. 150 CE
Author of the Charaka Samhita on Ayurvedic medicine
📚 Recommended reading on the Kushan Empire
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Kushan Empire for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Overlap: 345 years
Satavahana Empire ★
Deccan · c. 200 BCE – c. 225 CE
Overlap: 195 years
Gupta Empire ★
Gangetic Plain · c. 240 CE – c. 550 CE
Overlap: 135 years
Pallava Dynasty ★
South · c. 275 CE – c. 897 CE
Overlap: 100 years
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 270 years
Early Cholas (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 270 years
Early Cheras (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 270 years
Indo-Scythian (Saka) Kingdoms
Northwest · c. 110 BCE – c. 80 CE
Overlap: 50 years
Indo-Parthian Kingdom
Northwest · c. 19 CE – c. 100 CE
Overlap: 70 years
Western Kshatrapas
West · c. 35 CE – c. 415 CE
Overlap: 340 years
Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri
Deccan · c. 225 CE – c. 340 CE
Overlap: 115 years
Kalabhra Interregnum
South · c. 250 CE – c. 600 CE
Overlap: 125 years
Vakataka Dynasty
Deccan · c. 250 CE – c. 500 CE
Overlap: 125 years
Kadamba Dynasty
South · c. 345 CE – c. 525 CE
Overlap: 30 years
Western Ganga Dynasty
South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000
Overlap: 25 years
Kamarupa
Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140
Overlap: 25 years