KUSHANAS (50 AD - 300 AD)
 
   Establishment of Kushans

   The Kushans were a branch of the nomadic Yeuhchi tribe of China.The Yeuhchi 
   tribe was in conflict with another tribe and so was forced to leave China.
   They came to Central Asia and then spread to Bactria,Paritha and Afghanistan.
   Gradually they were divided into five branches. One of these branches Kouel
   Chougang (Kushans) was superior to all.The Kushans under Kujala attacked
   the Parithans,took possessions of Ki-pin and Kabul and became the complete 
   master of the Indian borderland.
  
   Kujala became the first king of the Kushans and was known as Kadphises I. 
   He was a great warrior. He was succeeded by his son Wima Kadphises known 
   as Kadphises II.He conquered the north-western region of India.
  
   He defeated Saka Satraps in the north-west. Punjab and Sind were his dominions.
 
  AD 120: Reign of Kanishka 
   
   Kanishka was the most famous of the Kushan kings. It is not known how he 
   became the king but he ascended the throne in AD 120.When Kanishka 
   ascended the throne, his empire consisted of Afghanistan,Sind, Punjab and 
   portions  of the former Parithan and Bactrian kingdoms.His empire extended from
   the north-west and Kashmir, over most of the Gangetic valley.He annexed three
   provinces of the Chinese empire,namely,Tashkand, Khotan and Yarkhand.He was
   the only king who ruled over these territories.He had two capitals at Purushpura
   (Peshawar now in Pakistan) and at Mathura in west Uttar Pradesh.Kanishka 
   proved that he was a great conqueror.Kanishka's immediate successor was 
   Vashiska who was then succeeded by Huvishka. Mathura became the centre of 
   Kushans.Many monuments were erected during Huvishka's reign.The last great 
   king of Kushans was Vasudev I. The Kushans were overthrown by the Sassanians
   of Persia in the north-west and the Guptas in the north.The rule of Kushans 
   ended almost at the same time as that of the Satavahans in the south.
   Kanishka embraced Buddhism towards the middle of his reign.He is said to have 
   been Zoroastrian before he became Buddhist. He spent his resources in spreading 
   Buddhism. Mahayana was the new form of Buddhism that was followed during this
   period where the Buddha was worshipped as God.Old monastries were repaired 
   and many new ones were built.Art, Science and Literature Kanishka was a great 
   patron of art and literature. A new form of art Gandhara Art was developed.
   Beautiful images of Buddha were developed in a Greek-Roman style. These images 
   were carved in a realistic way, with graceful bodies and curly hair.Kanishka's 
   court was adorned by many scholars like Ashvaghosha, Vasumitra, Nagarjuna and
   Charaka. Ashvaghosha was a great poet and a master of music. He wrote 
   Buddhacharita,a biography of the Buddha.Charak was a great physician and he 
   wrote a book Charakamhita , which is based on the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
  
     
      |INDUS VALLEY|  |VEDIC|   |BUDDHIST-ERA|   |ALEXANDER|  

      |MAURYAS|   |SUNGAS|   |KANVAS|   |SATAVAHANAS|

     |GUPTAS|   |HARSHA|   |CHALUKYAS|   |CHOLAS|   |PALLAVAS|