On The Politics And The Economy Of The Empire Of Kushan

The Empire of Kushan was established by Yüeh-chih.In the beginning of the 2th century B.C., Yüeh-chih people resided in Dunhuang and Qilianshan mountain at the north-west of China, and they migrated with their herd , and their influence was strong. About 165 B.C., Yüeh-chih people were conquered by Hsiung-nu , then they migrated the north plains of Sir river by the north road of Tianshan. At here, they rushed the Sakas who lived there and occupied the plains. Hereafter ,they were conquered by Wu-sun tribe and moved to Amu river valley. At here, they controlled the Transoxiana(the river valley bewteen Sir river and Amu river), and with the Sute place as their capital which was in the north of Amu river. Soon, Yüeh-chih people crossed Amu river and arrived at Bactria. At here, they were gradually becoming to farming from the nomad's way of life, the social system brock away from the primitive society, at last they established a big empire .The Empire of Kushan practiced absolute monarchy governance. The king was the highest ruler, gathering military, politics, economy and religion in the whole body. The high offices in the central government were all appointed by the king, the troops were nominated by the king, taxation of farm tax or exemption were decided by the king, the highest leader of religion circles was appointed by the king, the royalty outmatched the magisterium. Empire of Kushan didn't adopt a cent to seal to make, but practiced centralization system. The power of the regions carried out two typies, some regions was governed by the local officials appointed by the king ;they were responsible for the king. These regions were divied two levels ,the higher level was the province ;the lower was the village.The other type was far away from the central government ,they were most in the border area, this regions were governed by the local ruler under accepting the suzerainty of the king, they must be payed the certain quantity taxes to the king.Under the period of the Empire of Kushan, the irrigated agriculture, livestock husbandry, handicraft industry and business of the Central Asia all had a further development on the former foundation. Through the historic relic of the irrigation system, handicraft industry, coin etc. ,we could understand economic instauration and the development the Empire of Kushan. Under the period of the Empire of Kushan, the Central Asia trafficed continually with the neighborhood countries ,and the Central Asia was forming the center of the economic and the cultural interaction ,and was becoming the assemble place of the east and the west.