International Journal of History

Author(s): Paras Mohammed

Abstract: The Kushan Empire (c. 30-375 CE) and the Silk Road networks (c. 2nd century BCE-15th century CE) facilitated multifaceted cultural, religious, and economic exchanges between ancient India and Central Asia, with Uzbekistan serving as a critical nexus. This paper synthesizes archaeological evidence from key Uzbek sites such as Termez, Fayaz Tepe, Kara Tepe, and Dalverzin Tepe, integrated with historical accounts and recent discoveries, to interrogate these interconnections. Artifacts, including Buddhist sculptures, multilingual inscriptions, and trade goods, reveal the Kushans' syncretic practices, blending Indian, Greco-Bactrian, Iranian, and local elements. However, this study critically examines syncretism not as a harmonious fusion but as a strategic imperial tool for political consolidation, potentially masking power asymmetries. Drawing on network theory, it posits the Kushan Empire as a "network empire," where decentralized nodes (e.g., monastic complexes and trade hubs) enabled resilient exchanges. Recent excavations, such as the 2025 Chinese-Uzbek findings at Chinar-Tepa and lidar-mapped medieval cities like Tugunbulak, underscore ongoing material flows, challenge lowland-centric narratives of the Silk Road, and highlight environmental factors in urban decline. By analyzing territorial expansions, cultural dynamics, and economic mechanisms, this research argues that these interactions fostered a proto-globalized landscape, with implications for understanding modern connectivity initiatives like the Belt and Road.

DOI: 10.22271/27069109.2025.v7.i9b.545

Pages: 114-117 | Views: 261 | Downloads: 181

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