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Bactria: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Facts

Also Known As Bactriana • Zariaspa

Photos

Diodotus I
Map highlighting the location of the ancient country of Bactria in Central Asia, shown in orange across parts of modern Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with surrounding countries and major bodies of water labeled for geographic context.
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Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Related Places

Afghanistan
Afghanistan
country, Asia
Tajikistan
Tajikistan
country, Asia
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
country, Asia
Map showing the extent of the Achaemenid Empire during the 6th and 5th centuries BC, shaded in light green and spanning from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt through the Middle East to parts of Central Asia and the Indus Valley. Major regions, cities, and trade routes such as the Royal Road are labeled within the empire's boundaries.
ancient Iran
historical region, Asia

Key People

Relief of three Achaemenid warriors, known as the Ten Thousand Immortals, depicted in profile on glazed bricks with patterned robes and bows, from the Palace of Artaxerxes at Susa.
Achaemenid Empire
Iranian empire
Seleucid king of the Hellenistic Syrian Empire
Antiochus III the Great
Seleucid king
Eucratides, coin, 2nd century bc.
Eucratides
king of Bactria
default image
Menander
Indo-Greek king
Alexander and Darius
Darius III
king of Persia
default image
Zhang Qian
Chinese explorer
Demetrius, coin, 2nd century bc
Demetrius
king of Bactria
default image
Euthydemus
king of Bactria
Diodotus I
Diodotus I
king of Bactria
default image
Diodotus II
king of Bactria
default image
Bessus
Persian satrap

Related Quizzes

Marble bust of Alexander the Great, in the British Museum, London, England. Hellenistic Greek, 2nd-1st century BC. Said to be from Alexandria, Egypt. Height: 37 cm.
Ancient Greece