Kanishka

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kanishka

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the estimated reign?Circa 127–150 CE
2. What is the imperial capitals?Puruṣapura (Peshawar) and Mathura
3. Who was Kanishka the Great?Kanishka the Great was a Kushan emperor who ruled a huge empire in Central and South Asia around 127 CE.
4. Where were Kanishka's two capitals and why were they important?His capitals were Puruṣapura (modern Peshawar) and Mathura. They helped him manage trade and govern his diverse lands.

Kujula Kadphises: The founder of the Kushan Empire, whose lineage Kanishka carried forward.
Mahayana Buddhism: A major branch of Buddhism characterized by its emphasis on the Bodhisattva ideal and the concept of skillful means (upaya).
Bactrian Language: An Eastern Iranian language spoken in Bactria and surrounding regions, adopted as the official language of the Kushan Empire under Kanishka.
Zenith: The highest point or peak of power, success, or influence.