Kushan Empire

Empire Level 2 ★ Major power

c. 30 CE – c. 375 CE

Central Asian empire at its height under Kanishka.

🗺 See on map in 101 CE

Capital: Purushapura / Mathura
Region: Northwest
Duration: 345 years
Main period: Kushan Empire

Changing extent

c. 30 CE — ~450 km radius: Kujula Kadphises
c. 100 CE — ~800 km radius: Kanishka's peak
c. 230 CE — ~450 km radius: Decline after Vasudeva

Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).

Rulers

Kujula Kadphises Emperor
Unified the Yuezhi.
c. 30 CE – c. 80 CE
Vima Taktu Emperor
c. 80 CE – c. 95 CE
Vima Kadphises Emperor
Gold coinage.
c. 95 CE – c. 127 CE
Kanishka I Emperor
Fourth Buddhist Council; Gandhara and Mathura art.
c. 127 CE – c. 150 CE
Huvishka Emperor
c. 150 CE – c. 190 CE
Vasudeva I Emperor
Last great Kushan.
c. 190 CE – c. 230 CE

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

active c. 150 CE

Author of the Charaka Samhita on Ayurvedic medicine

📚 Recommended reading on the Kushan Empire

Textbook

Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)

NCERT · NCERT

The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.

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Textbook

Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)

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Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.

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An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)

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The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.

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Textbook

India's Ancient Past

R. S. Sharma · Oxford University Press

The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.

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We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →

Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Kushan Empire for a significant part of its history.

Anuradhapura Kingdom ★

Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017

Satavahana Empire ★

Deccan · c. 200 BCE – c. 225 CE

Gupta Empire ★

Gangetic Plain · c. 240 CE – c. 550 CE

Pallava Dynasty ★

South · c. 275 CE – c. 897 CE

Early Pandyas (Sangam era)

South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE

Early Cholas (Sangam era)

South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE

Early Cheras (Sangam era)

South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE

Indo-Scythian (Saka) Kingdoms

Northwest · c. 110 BCE – c. 80 CE

Indo-Parthian Kingdom

Northwest · c. 19 CE – c. 100 CE

Western Kshatrapas

West · c. 35 CE – c. 415 CE

Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri

Deccan · c. 225 CE – c. 340 CE

Kalabhra Interregnum

South · c. 250 CE – c. 600 CE

Vakataka Dynasty

Deccan · c. 250 CE – c. 500 CE

Kadamba Dynasty

South · c. 345 CE – c. 525 CE

Western Ganga Dynasty

South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000

Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140