Kanishka And Spread Of Mahayana Buddhism
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EXAMIVERSE
Background of Kanishka’s Reign
- Origin: Leader of the Yuezhi Kushans, he inherited a throne stretching from Bactria to the Ganges basin.
- Reign: Acceded around 78 CE, inaugurating the Shaka era; his capital was Puruspura (Peshawar) and empire spanned Central Asia to northern India.
- Cultural milieu: Ruled over a syncretic society blending Greek, Persian, Indian, and nomadic Steppe traditions.