The Kushan state

Between 140 and 130 BCE the nomadic Yuezhi tribes conquered Greco-Bactria. In the 1st century CE the head of the Kushan (Guishuang) clan of the Yuezhi united all Yuezhi lands and founded the Kushan state. Its first ruler was Kujula Kadphises; under his successor Vima Kadphises the territory grew and gold, silver and copper coins with the ruler’s name began to be minted. Under King Kanishka (2nd century CE) the Kushan state reached its height: the capital moved to Peshawar, the state stretched across India, Khotan, Afghanistan and southern Uzbekistan, and trade and diplomatic ties were set up with India, China and Rome. The economy rested on irrigated farming, trade and crafts; devices such as the water-lifting wheel and water mill were used. There were several kinds of writing: the Bactrian language in a script based on the Greek alphabet, and Khorezmian and Sogdian scripts based on the Aramaic alphabet. At first Zoroastrianism was widespread; through ties with India Buddhism arrived and spread across Central Asia via the Surkhan oasis, lasting until the 8th century. At Khalchayan, Dalverzintepa, Ayritom, Zartepa, Karatepa and Fayaztepa in Surkhandarya, palaces, temples, wall paintings, Buddha statues and images of musicians have been found. Kushan art blended local, Ancient Eastern and Greek (Hellenistic) styles. In the 3rd century CE the state fell into crisis and broke up.