Syncretic Empire And Kushana Empire

KUSHANA EMPIRE AND YUEZHI (PRE-KANISHKA ERA)

The Kushana Empire was a syncretic empire formed by the Yuezhi in the Bactrian territories in the early 1st century CE. They were formed by one of the 5 branches of the Yuezhi confederation, an Iranic or Tocharian, Indo-European nomadic group. Yuezhi literally means “moon clan” in Mandarin. Their dominions extended from Tajikstan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and into the Gangetic River Valley in Northern India. They adopted elements of the Hellenistic culture of Bactria, adapting a form of the Greek alphabet into their own language. The Yuezhi conquered Bactria in the 2nd century BCE and divided into 5 chiefdoms, one of which was that of the Kushanas (Guishuang). This clan is first mentioned in Chinese sources such as the Shiji at the beginning of the 2nd century BCE as nomads living in the western part of Gansu province. When Lao Shang, ruler of the Xiongnu, defeated them and killed their king, the main body of the Yuezhi moved westward into Sogdiana and Bactria, putting an end to Greek rule in both regions.

From Bactria, the Kushana Empire became a wealthy trading hub between the peoples of Han China, Sassanid Persia and the Roman Empire. About 128 BCE, the Yuezhi was recorded as living north of the Oxus River, ruling Bactria as a dependency, but a little later the Great Yuezhi kingdom was in Bactria, and Sogdiana was occupied by the Dayuan. First to arrive in Bactria and Northwest India were the Indo-European Sakas or Scythians, who were driven out of Central Asia by the Yuezhi. In their turn, the Yuezhi occupied Bactria and extended to northwest India. Missionaries from the Great Yuezhi played an important role in the propagation of Buddhism. The remnants of the Yuezhi tribe in Gansu were known as the Lesser