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Indo-Greek kingdom

Asian history

Quick Summary

The Indo-Greek kingdom was a Hellenistic kingdom that emerged in Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) around 250 BCE. This kingdom was founded by Diodotus I, the Seleucid satrap of Bactria, or his son. The successors of Diodotus expanded their rule into the Hindu Kush and northwestern India, encompassing modern-day Afghanistan, parts of Central Asia, and a significant area of Pakistan.1

This expansion led to a considerable Hellenistic influence on the culture of Central Asia and northwestern India, evident in art, architecture, coinage, and script. The Indo-Greek kingdom eventually faced challenges from the Yuezhi people before 128 BCE, after which Greek rule north of the Hindu Kush declined. The Yuezhi occupied Bactria, and later, under the Kushans, the region became a center of Buddhism.1

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