The Kushan Empire was a large state that stretched across Central and South Asia in the first centuries of the Common Era. It was founded by the Kushans, a people whose ancestors had migrated from the northwest of China into Bactria, in present-day Afghanistan, and it reached its height under the ruler Kanishka. The empire controlled key stretches of the Silk Road and traded with Rome, India and China. Its rulers patronised Buddhism, and the art of Gandhara and Mathura developed images of the Buddha under Kushan rule. Gold coins in Greek, Bactrian and Indian styles circulated widely. The empire weakened under pressure from the Sasanian Persians and was divided in the third and fourth centuries.
Before and after
- 19 August 14 CEDeath of Augustus
- 17 CEDeath of Ovid
- c. 20 CEBirth of Mark the Evangelist
- c. 20 CEConstruction of the Roman Theatre of Orange
- from 30 CE to 375 CEKushan Empire
- from c. 30 CE to 325 CEEarly Christianity
- 7 April 30 CECrucifixion of Jesus
- c. 33 CEDeath of Jesus Christ
- 33 CEOrigins of Christianity
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- from 279 BCE to 1480Construction of Lighthouse of Alexandria
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 1st century.