Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

Kingdom of Bactria Βάχλο (Bactrian)
256 BC–c. 120 BC
Approximate maximum extent of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom circa 170 BC, under the reign of Eucratides the Great, including the regions of Tapuria and Traxiane to the west, Sogdiana and Ferghana to the north, Bactria and Arachosia to the south.
Capital	Bactra Ai-Khanoum
Common languages	Greek (official) Bactrian Aramaic Parthian Sogdian
Religion	Hellenism Greco-Buddhism Zoroastrianism
Government	Monarchy
Basileus
• 256–239 BC	Diodotus I (first)
• 117–100 BC	Heliocles I (last)
Historical era	Antiquity
• Established	256 BC
• Disestablished	c. 120 BC
Area
184 BC[1]	2,500,000 km2 (970,000 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Seleucid Empire Indo-Greek Kingdom Parthian Empire Kushan Empire

Greco-Bactria was a Hellenistic-era Greek state,^[2][3][4] and along with the Indo-Greek Kingdom, the easternmost part of the Hellenistic world in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It was founded c. 256 BC by the Seleucid satrap Diodotus I Soter and lasted until its fall c. 120 BC.^[a] It was ruled for most of its history by the Diodotid dynasty and Euthydemid dynasty.

The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom covered much of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, and some parts of Kazakhstan and Iran. An extension further east, with military campaigns and settlements, may have reached the borders of the Qin State in 230 BC.^[5][6] Its cities were among the largest and richest of antiquity; indeed, Bactria was known as the 'land of a thousand cities.'^[7][8][9]

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