The Kushanas were a branch of the Yueh-Chih tribe who ruled over north India from about AD 50 to 300. They were spread across Afghanistan to the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent at least till Varanasi.
Kujula, the first known Kushana king defeated the Parthians and occupied Kabul around AD 50. Kadphises II, who called himself Lord of the World, succeeded Kujula and conquered parts of north India.
Kanishka was the most famous among the Kushana kings. His territory spanned from the north-west over most of the Gangetic valley and had two capitals Purushapura (Peshawar) in present-day Pakistan and Mathura. He even tried to expand his territory to China. Emperor Kanishka was a great patron of Buddhism and was instrumental in the establishment of the Buddhist way of life in the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and China.
Though their territories slowly grew smaller, the Kushana rule continued for another 150 years until they were finally overpowered by the Sassanians in the north-west and the Guptas in the north.
Picture Credit : Google