A New Study of the Śaka-Kuṣāṇa Period

Among the most difficult unsolved problems of Indian history and archaeology are the chronology of the dynasties generally called Śaka and Kuṣāṇa and the dating of the art of Gandhāra. Writing of the former in 1919, Dr. Vincent Smith declared: 'definite progress towards a conclusive solution of the problem based upon solid facts has been made.... and ... the uncertainty as to the chronology has been reduced to a period of forty years in round numbers. Or to state it otherwise, the question is, "Did Kanishka come to the throne in A.D. 78, or about forty years later?"' But Dr. Smith's optimistic faith in progress has not been realized, and the last thirty years have rather added to our uncertainty than lessened it. Confusion was made worse confused by the many theories, continually revised, of the late Professor Konow, who grappled with the problem until the time of his death, but produced no chronology to obtain general assent. A few years ago Dr. Ghirshman devised a new chronological scheme, which had the advantage of simplicity and was widely accepted, especially on the other side of the Channel; but this has not by any means passed unquestioned, and authorities are now perhaps further from unanimity than ever

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