Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

"Baktria" redirects here. For the historical region, see Bactria.
Kingdom of Bactria
Βασιλεία τῆς Βακτριανῆς (Ancient Greek)
Basileía tês Baktrianēs
256 BC – c. 120 BC
Eucratides the Great wearing the Bactrian version of the Boeotian helmet, shown on his gold 20-stater, the largest gold coin ever minted in the ancient world, c. 2nd century 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.
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
Common languages
Religion
GovernmentHellenistic Monarchy
Basileus 
• 256–239 BC
Diodotus I (first)
• 117–100 BC
Heliocles I (last)
Historical eraAntiquity
• 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

The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (Greek: Βασιλεία τῆς Βακτριανῆς, romanized: Basileía tês Baktrianês, lit. 'Kingdom of Bactria') was a Greek state of the Hellenistic period[2][3][4] located in Central Asia. The kingdom was founded c. 256 BC by the Seleucid satrap Diodotus I Soter and lasted until its fall c. 120 BC.[a] At its peak the kingdom consisted of present-day Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and small parts of Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Iran. An extension further east, with military campaigns and settlements, may have reached the borders of the Qin State in China by about 230 BC.[5][6]

Although a Greek population was present in Bactria by the 5th century BC, Alexander the Great conquered the land by 327 BC[7] and founded many cities, most of them named Alexandria, and settled with Macedonians and other Greeks. These colonists further strengthened the Greek population in the region, thereby laying the foundation of a Greek kingdom far in the east. Following the death of Alexander, control of Bactria passed on to his general Seleucus I Nicator.[8] The fertility of the land and prosperity of Bactria by the early 3rd century BC led to the creation of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom by Diodotus as a breakaway state of the Seleucid empire. The Bactrian Greeks grew increasingly more powerful and started expanding further, invading north-western India between 190 and 180 BC under king Demetrius, the son of Euthydemus. This invasion led to the creation of the Indo-Greek kingdom, as a successor state of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, and was subsequently ruled by kings Apollodotus I and Pantaleon, who were the first to issue coins in the Indian standard. Historical records show that many rich and prosperous cities were present in the kingdom,[9][10][11] but only a few such cities have been excavated such as Ai-Khanoum and Bactra. The city of Ai-Khanoum, in north-eastern Afghanistan, had all the hallmarks of a true Hellenistic city with a Greek theater, gymnasium and some houses with colonnaded courtyards.[12]

The kingdom reached the height of its power under king Eucratides the Great, who seems to have seized power through a coup around 171 BC and created his own dynasty. Eucratides also invaded India and successfully fought against the Indo-Greek kings, minting many Indian coins and temporarily holding territory as far as the Hydaspes river until he was finally repelled and returned to Bactria. However, soon after this the kingdom started to decline. The Parthians and nomadic tribes such as Sakas and Yuezhi became a major threat.[13] Eucratides was killed by his own son in about 145 BC, which may have further destabilised the kingdom. Heliocles was the last king to rule in Bactria, after his death, Greek political power ceased in Bactria.[14]

Even after the fall of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, their rich Hellenistic influence remained strong for many more centuries. The Yuezhi invaders settled in Bactria and became Hellenized. They subsequently founded the Kushan empire around 30 AD, and adopted the Greek alphabet to write their language and added Greek deities to their pantheon. The Greco-Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum was at the doorstep of India and known for its high level of Hellenistic sophistication. Greek art travelled from Bactria with the Indo-Greeks and influenced Indian art, religion and culture, leading to new syncretic art called Greco-Buddhist art. Due to the influence of the Greeks, both Buddhist and Hindu deities were represented in human form for the first time.

  1. ^ Taagepera, Rein (1979). "Size and Duration of Empires: Growth-Decline Curves, 600 B.C. to 600 A.D.". Social Science History. 3 (3–4): 132. doi:10.2307/1170959. JSTOR 1170959.
  2. ^ The Ancient Greco-Bactrian kingdom and Hellenistic Afghanistan Brewminate, Archived 2021-09-24 at the Wayback Machine – Matthew A. McIntosh
  3. ^ Cribb, Joe (2005). "The Greek Kingdom of Bactria, its coinage and its collapse". Afghanistan Ancien Carrefour Entre Lʼest et Lʼouest: 1 – via Academia.edu.
  4. ^ Mairs, Rachel (2016). "Bactrian or Graeco-Bactrian Kingdom". The Encyclopedia of Empire: 1–4.
  5. ^ Lucas, Christopoulos. Dionysian Rituals and the Golden Zeus of China. Sino-Platonic Papers 326.
  6. ^ Strabo, Geography 11.11.1
  7. ^ Crabben, Jan van der. "Bactria". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  8. ^ "Bactria | Map, History, & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  9. ^ Doumanis, Nicholas (16 December 2009). A History of Greece.[permanent dead link‍] Palgrave Macmillan. p. 64. ISBN 978-1137013675.
  10. ^ Baumer, Christoph (11 December 2012). The History of Central Asia: The Age of the Steppe Warriors (Archived 2022-11-19 at the Wayback Machine) Vol. 1. I. B. Tauris, ISBN 978-1780760605 p. 289.
  11. ^ Kaushik Roy (28 July 2015). Military Manpower, Armies and Warfare in South Asia (Archived 2022-11-19 at the Wayback Machine). Routledge. ISBN 978-1317321279.
  12. ^ Boardman, John (2015). The Greeks in Asia. Thames and Hudson. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-500-77278-2.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Strabo 11.11.2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Jakobsson, J. (2007). "The Greeks of Afghanistan Revisited". Nomismatika Khronika: p 17.


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