MMW 12 Lecture 8: Kushan Empire and the Universalization of Buddhism

• School: UCSD
• Department: Making of the Modern World
• Course: MMW 12
• Professor: Alexander B Stewart

Document Summary

Mmw 12 lecture 8 kushan empire and the universalization of buddhism. Nomadic yuezhi people defeated by xiongnu, migrate from china"s northern borderlands to defeat hellenistic bactria in north india (modern afghanistan) Jade and horses to late zhou, qin, han dynasty. Han wudi sends envoy to gain yuezhi alliance against xiongnu, creates trade connections instead of military alliance: middleman of trade. Controlled passes in mountainous regions, so they controlled the trade and the taxing of merchants. Nomadic people taking over agricultural civilization on edge of hellenistic world: skilled on horseback. Temples with imperial patronage: greek, persian, hindu, buddhist, jain gods. Elements of caste system, merchants" guilds, religious institutions instead of establishing bureaucracy: didn"t have own administrative structures. Borrowed parthian (persian) use of satraps: satrap: centrally appointed autonomous local governors, control locals and pay tribute to emperor. Mystification: legitimizing political authority, making it seem natural through religious symbols. Some emperors more in line with one divinity than others, but they.