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South AsiaAsia

Kushan Empire

c. 30 CE – c. 375 CE · about 345 years approximate dates

The Kushan Empire was founded by the Yuezhi people and extended from Central Asia into northern India. Under Kanishka it was a crossroads of the Silk Road and helped spread Mahayana Buddhism to Central Asia and China. The Sasanians and Guptas absorbed its lands.

Key facts

Datesc. 30 CE – c. 375 CE
RegionSouth Asia
ContinentAsia
CapitalsKapisa (Bagram), Purushapura (Peshawar), Mathura, Taxila
FounderKujula Kadphises
Religion(s)Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism
Peak extent≈ 2 million km² (c. 200 CE) – source

Before & after

Preceded by

Indo-Greek Kingdom Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Indo-Scythian Kingdom

Followed by

Gupta Empire Sasanian Persian Empire

In the Islamic timeline

  • Buddhism — Kanishka patronised Buddhism; Gandharan Buddhist art flourished.

Sources

Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.