Kushan Empire

Kushan Empire was an empire in Transoxiana and Khwarazm (Central and North Asia) that lasted from c. 30 to 375 CE, about 345 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

Founded by the Kushan clan of the Yuezhi in northern Bactria. Its kings wrote Bactrian in Greek letters, controlled the crossing points of the Silk Road and spread Buddhism toward the Tarim basin.

See Kushan Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 30 to 375 CE

Duration

345 years

Type

Empire

Region

Transoxiana and Khwarazm, Central and North Asia

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Bactra, later Purushapura

Came from

• Yuezhi c. 400 to 130 BCE

Neighbours in Central and North Asia

• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE
• Sogdiana c. 545 BCE to 722 CE
• Kingdom of Khotan c. 200 BCE to 1006 CE
• Rouran Khaganate 330 to 555 CE
• Xianbei state c. 93 to 234 CE
• Kingdom of Kucha c. 100 BCE to 840 CE
• Ancient Chorasmia c. 600 BCE to 305 CE
• Afrighid dynasty c. 305 to 995 CE
• Kangju c. 200 BCE to 450 CE
• Jushi kingdom c. 200 BCE to 450 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE, Middle East
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE, Europe
• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE, South Asia
• Gupta Empire c. 320 to 550 CE, South Asia
• Eastern Han 25 to 220 CE, East Asia

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