Kushan Empire

The Kushan ruled over an empire in Central Asia and Northern India, which at its greatest extent - approximately between 100 and 250 AD ( exact date disputed ) - the area of the present state of Tajikistan to the Caspian Sea and from the area of present day Afghanistan down into the Indus Valley and the Ganges - Yamuna Mesopotamia handed. The empire was founded by descendants of the Yuezhi from the present-day Gansu province. It maintained diplomatic contacts with the Roman Empire, the Sassanid Persia and the Empire of China. Under Kanishka, the empire of Benares on Kashmir and Bactria to the Oxus and the south is likely to have extended into the Sindh.

Event history

The Kushan (or Kushan ) are mentioned in the Hou Hanshu the history of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Guishang and designated as part of the Yuezhi tribe. The Yuezhi, a loose confederation of nomadic, lived as eastern representative of the Indo-Europeans on the dry grassland in Gansu until they were BC to 160 BC, expelled in the years 176 by ​​another nomadic group, the Xiongnu. In the last two centuries before Christ, they penetrated the Hellenized Bactria and the adjacent areas north of Central Asia, where from 140/130 BC, settled five Yuezhi tribes. The Kushan, one of these tribes, submitted under their leader Kujula Kadphises in the first century AD, their neighbors, and so founded the Kushan Empire. This expanded to the south and snatched the Indoparthern and Saka ( Shaka ) successively control of Gandhara. As a relatively independent governor ( Kshatrapas ) of the Kushan ruled sakische and indoparthische petty kings, however, until well into the second century into it.

Kanishka I, the fourth " Kushan emperor " ( probably reigned from 127 ), led the kingdom to the summit of his power. He ruled from two capitals from: Purushapura (now Peshawar in northern Pakistan) and Mathura in northern India. He and Vasudeva I. Huvishka be referred to as the " Great Kushan ".

The reasons for the decline of the Kushan rule are unclear. In Central Asia, the Kuschanreich persisted up to the early 3rd century before it was conquered by the Sassanids. In the early 4th century, there was a revolt of the Kushan, which was however defeated by Shapur II. Remnants of the Kushan rule remained even after the conquest of the western Kuschanreiches continue to exist in the East, as in Mathura in northern India ( until the 4th century ).

Arts and culture, religion and trade

The Kushan period is often regarded in India as a dark age when foreign dynasties ruled and the splendor of great empires such as Mauryas or Guptas missing. Nevertheless, important works were like the Dharmashastras or the Manusmriti written and placed with the Indo- Kushan art the basis for the emergence of the classical Indian culture at this time. The poems and dramas of the fragments Ashvaghosa ( 1st / 2nd century ) are the oldest surviving works of classical Sanskrit literature dar. In gräkobuddhistischen art of Gandhara, which Western and Indian influences mediated to the east, merged Indian, Iranian and Hellenistic elements.

The Kushan took over the Greek alphabet, which they had encountered in Bactria, and took the native language of the Bactrians to. The Greek alphabet they adapted to the Bactrian language and soon began trying to mint coins, the first in India. On the coins she titled as Maharaja or as Basileus.

The Kuschans joined the maritime trade in the Indian Ocean and the land trade along the Silk Road through the long- civilized Indus Valley. The importance of trade for the Kuschanas has been, can be inferred from the action of Pliny: "There is no year in which India attracts less than 50 million sesterces per se. " It is believed that the Kuschanas own from all Roman gold coins coins coined because there are hardly any finds of Roman coins. The coins show alongside Hindu and Buddhist and Greek, Persian and even Sumerian- Elamite gods.

The loose unity and peace in the vast Kushan Empire favored the long-distance trade, brought silk to Rome, created chains of flourishing cities and probably even encouraged the expansion of a Hellenistic form of Buddhism - the Graeco- Buddhism in Central and North Asia. Kanishka main work is the famous stupa near Peshawar. In his religious policy, he seems to have followed syncretic tendencies, to consolidate the kingdom within. Vasudeva was the first Kuschanherrscher, who wore an Indian name; the " Indianisation " the Kuschans took its course.

Administration of the empire

In the provincial administration was followed Parthian and Indo- Greek customs. The provinces were administered by satraps.

He was the son of God ( deaputra ), which is possibly derived from the Chinese imperial title Son of Heaven: At the top of the Empire was the king who could carry different titles, which were mostly borrowed from other cultures. The Indian title King of Kings ( maharaja rajatiraja ) and its Iranian and Greek equivalent or Basileus Shahanshah basileon are attested. Even the Iranian title Padschah was performed and found in an inscription even the Roman title Kaisara ( Caesar ) use.

After death, the rulers were deified; their statues were erected in temples. Overall, the ruler seems to have been all-powerful. There is no evidence for a council or senate, had to be agreed with the decisions.

Dating problems

The dating of the Kushan period has long been very controversial and not fully understood. There are dating or were represented from the first to the third century AD. Because the Shaka era is still in use ( from 78 ) today, it was deemed long as introduced by Kanishka time. In contrast, above all, the numismatist Joe Cribb has represented on the basis of all numismatic and literary sources, a time between 100 and 120. Since a mathematical formula was known, the allowable in the 3rd century, from the Shaka to convert the Kushan period, the date is 127 for the throne Kanishka I. generally through. The on Kanishka I. following rulers are controversial, especially since there are overlaps in the dating. First, it has been suggested that at the end of the reign of Kanishka I., Vaschischka reigned in the Indian provinces as co-regent and this system was continued under the successors of Mitregentschaften. It is also possible that Vasudeva I. began a new era, the double datings would then split in two eras.

List of Kushan rulers

The most important emperors ( reigns only approximate values ​​) were:

Dynasty of Kidariten:

• Kidara I (ca. 340 -? )
• Kidara II