The Yuechi nomads moving west from the borders of China pushed their western neighbours, various Scythian (Shaka) tribes into western lands. By 87 BC a mixed Shaka and Indo-Parthian group were in control of the north-west while other Shakas had penetrated deeply into the north-east.
The considerable Shaka dominions followed the Persian system of government, dividing their territories into provinces ruled by governors and subdivided into smaller units. Shaka rule in the western region survived into the 5th century AD. In the east, however, they were driven out by the Kushans, descendants of a branch of the Yuechi.
