Kushan King Kanishka Adopts Bactrian

The Kushan Empire, which thrived in Central Asia, initially utilized Greek for administrative purposes, reflecting the influence of Hellenistic culture following the conquests of Alexander the Great. However, as the empire expanded and integrated various cultures, the need for a more localized administrative language became apparent. The Bactrian language, an Eastern Iranian language, emerged as a suitable alternative. The Rabatak inscription, a significant archaeological find, provides evidence of this transition. It was discovered in the 1990s and later deciphered, revealing that Kanishka the Great, a prominent Kushan king, made the strategic decision to replace Greek with Bactrian as the official language of administration. This shift not only marked a cultural transition but also indicated the growing importance of local identity within the empire.