Kushan

Refers to the period of culture of the Kushan dynasty in ancient India, approximately from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century CE. The Kushan dynasty was very wealthy due to its control of trade route gateways to the Roman Middle East and China; it reached the pinnacle of its grandeur under King Kanishka of the late 1st century to early 2nd century. Kanishka's coins, with their depictions of gods from different religions, reflect his desire to live harmoniously with the various peoples within his domain as well as with the peoples of regions he had trade links with. There were two important artistic centers: Gandhara and Mathura; although there was contact and exchange between the two, they developed unique styles. The image of Buddha as a god emerges for the first time during this period; it is first seen on a coin and was soon found in complete stone images.