Kushan Empire
Origin
- They were a nomadic tribe called Yueh-chi from north-western border of China
- Yueh-chi were divided into two groups
- Little Yeuh-chi Tibet
- Great Yueh-chi in India
- Yueh-chi settled in India after defeating Sakas
- After settling and becoming an agricultural community, the Great Yueh-chi tribe got divided into five branches
Rulers
- Kujula Kadphises
- Defeated the Greeks to establish the kingdom
- Other names : Kadaphises I, Dharmathida and Sachadharmathida
- Religion : Buddhist
- He occupied Kabul and Kashmir
- Vima Takto
- Son of Kujula Kadphises
- Vima Kadhises
- Son of Vima Takto
- First to issue large number of Gold coins and copper coins
- Famous coin – Siva holding a trident and bull
- Religion : Adopted Shaivism
- Expanded the silk route trade
Kanishka I
- Son of Vima Kadphises
- He ruled from Purushpura
- Regional capitals
- Taxila
- Begram
- Mathura
- He is the founder of Saka Era AD 78
- he patronized Buddhism and Convened the 4th Buddhist council
- Buddhism divided into two board sects – Hinayana and the Mahayana
- Important court Scholars of Kanishka
- Vasumitra
- Ashvagosa – first dramatist to Sanskrit in his plays
- Nagarjuna
- charak – written Charaka Samhita
- Parsva
- Vasishaka
- Succeeded Kanishka I
- Also called as Kaisar
Kushan Art
- Mathura School of Art
- Sitting and standing statues of Buddha
- Spotted red sand stone was used in this school
- Statues of Yaksa and Yaksi
- Gandhara school of Art
- Influenced Greek arts
- Anatomical accuracy and spatial depth are its special features
- Grey sand stone was used in Gandhara schools
- Amaravathi School of Art
- White marbles were used in this school