THE KUSHANS
The Pahlavas were in turn replaced by the Yueh-Chih tribe in the north-west. The racial affinities of these people are uncertain; physically they appear Turkish-type but like the Shakas they appear to have spoken an Iranian language. For a century or more they dwelt in Bactria and the neighbouring regions of Central Asia, divided into five autonomous tribes, until control was consolidated in the hands of Kujula Kadphises of the tribe of the Kushans. Kujula issued coins south of the Hindukush. He minted copper in imitation of Roman coins. His son and successor Vima Kadphises issued a large number of gold coins in which he seems to be a worshipper of Shiva and
spread his kingdom east of the Indus. The house of Kadphises (AD 50-78) was succeeded, probably after a short interregnum, by that of Kanishka. Its kings extended the
Kushan power over upper India and the lower Indus basin.
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