Question

Of what event was Palmyra able to take advantage, to the detriment of the Kushan Empire?

a) Civil wars in neighboring empires
b) Economic collapse in Europe
c) Drought in the Middle East
d) Pandemic outbreaks

Answer 1

Palmyra took advantage of the third-century crisis in the Roman Empire to expand its influence, which negatively impacted the Kushan Empire's trade and economy.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the third century, the city of Palmyra took advantage of the weakening of the Roman Empire, which was in a state of economic contraction due to various factors such as civil wars in neighboring empires. The decline in demand for luxury goods significantly affected the Kushan Empire, which relied on trade through regions like Kush. As the Roman Empire faced its crisis, it triggered a fiscal crisis for Kush as well, exacerbated by the rise of the kingdom of Aksum which took over much of the regional commerce that had previously benefited the Kushans. Having no partner of similar size and wealth to trade African goods on a large scale, the Kushan Empire saw a decrease in its trade activities, contributing to its downfall. The Kushan Empire also faced military campaigns from the Gupta Empire and ultimately was overtaken by the Hephthalites.