Balkh
Is Balkh the oldest city in the world?
What is Balkh famous for?
Which country is Balkh located in?
What was Balkhās ancient name?
Balkh, city in Balkh province, in northern Afghanistan, that was formerly Bactra, the capital of the ancient region of Bactria. It is situated along the Balkh, or Balkhab, River, about 14 miles (22 km) west of the city of MazÄr-e SharÄ«f. One of the oldest cities in Afghanistan and the Central Asian region, Balkh was an important commercial, political, and religious center in antiquity and the medieval Islamic world. The city is known for extensive archaeological remains of ancient Bactra, including its historic walls, shrines, and other monuments. District pop. (2020 est.) 136,097.
Geography
Balkh is situated in the fertile plain near the Balkh River. The Hindu Kush mountain range lies to the south of the city and the Amu Darya is to the north. The Balkh River originates in the Band-e-Amir lakes in Bamiyan province and flows northward. The region has a semiarid climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and cool winters. The plains surrounding Balkh are among Afghanistanās key agricultural areas. Irrigation from the Balkh River supports the cultivation of many crops, including wheat, cotton, rice, and potatoes. Livestock farming is also a major economic activity in the region.
History
Ancient and medieval periods
Balkh is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia and served as the capital of the ancient region of Bactria, a satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire (559ā330 bce). The city was captured by Alexander the Great about 330 bce. Thereafter it became the capital of the Greek satrapy of Bactria. In succeeding centuries the city flourished as an important center of trade, religion, and learning, especially as it was located along the ancient Silk Road, an interconnected network of trade routes. The city was successively ruled by several dynasties, including the Kushans, Hephthalites, and Turks, until it was decisively taken by the Arabs in the 8th century. Balkh then temporarily became the capital of KhorÄsÄn. Under the Abbasids and Samanids, and later the Ghaznavids, its fame as a capital and center of learning earned it the title of āmother of cities.ā
Balkh was completely destroyed by the Mongols under Genghis Khan in 1220. The city was rebuilt under the Timurids in the early 15th century. In 1480 the reported discovery of the tomb of ŹæAlÄ«, the Prophet Muhammadās son-in-law, in neighboring MazÄr-e SharÄ«f helped make the settlement an important pilgrimage center. Balkh remained an important political center until the mid-19th century. However, the rise of MazÄr-e SharÄ«f contributed to the cityās diminishing political and economic influence.
Modern period
Balkh was incorporated into Afghanistan in 1850 during the reign of DÅst Moįø„ammad KhÄn. In the 20th century archaeological excavations uncovered remains of the ancient city. Like much of Afghanistan, Balkh was affected by decades of conflict that followed the Soviet invasion of the country in 1979. After the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2001 (see Afghanistan War) and the fall of the first Taliban regime, the city remained under the control of the U.S.-backed Afghan government until the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Archaeological remains
The modern city of Balkh is situated amid extensive ruins of ancient Bactra. Among the most prominent remains are the massive mud-brick walls surrounding the ancient city, which are more than 7 miles (11 km) in circumference, and Bala Hissar, the citadel. Other remains of Balkhās splendor include ancient Buddhist reliquary mounds and later Islamic shrines and mosques. The shrine of KhvÄjeh AbÅ« Naį¹£r PÄrsÄ, built in the Timurid period, is a remnant of the cityās historic past and one of its best-preserved monuments.