Lesson 3

The Kushan Empire: A nomadic empire at the

crossroads

1

Something to think about….

• What is a middleman?

• How could a society… a country, kingdom, or empire, serve as a middleman?

• Turn and Talk. 2

CE

Han Dynasty - 206 BCE to 220 CE

Roman Empire – 27 BCE to 476 CE

Kushan Empire – 30 CE to 375 CE

250 | 200 | 150 | 100 | 50 | 0 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | 350 | 400 | 450 | 500 BCE

The Kushan Empire was a society in central Asia. It overlapped with the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire and played an

important role in the interactions between the Han and Rome.

3

Study the coins on this slide. These coins are artifacts from the Kushan Empire. What do you think we can learn about past societies by studying their coins? Make some best guesses… what do these coins tell us about the Kushan Empire? Turn and Talk and list three inferences (best guesses) about the Kushans.

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5 Study this map. What landmarks can you use to help you find and draw the Han Empire on a larger, blank map?

6 Study this map. What landmarks can you use to help you find and draw the Roman Empire on a larger, blank map?

7

Study these maps. What landmarks can you use to help you find and draw the Kushan Empire on a larger, blank map?

8

Map Work: On the blank map of Afroeurasia, trace the borders of each of these empires (Han, Roman, and Kushan), label them, and shade or color each. Answer the questions underneath the map as well.

9 This map shows the Silk Roads, the edge of the Roman Empire, the Kushan Empire, and the Han Empire. Notice how all land routes passed through the Kushan Empire.

Money!

10

• What types of symbols and messages are on the money we use today?

• Why do we have pictures and words on money instead of just a number to show its value?

• Why do we even have money? • When did people not need money?

Exit Pass:

How did the Kushan Empire demonstrate each of these Era 3 global patterns? a) Increasing interconnectedness between human

societies in Afroeurasia b) Cultural diffusion c) Leaders and governments that promoted cultural

diffusion and the spread of belief systems

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Property of Oakland Schools

Authors: Stacie Woodward and Darin Stockdill Editor: Amy Bloom

Academic Review: Ian Moyer