Bactria (Afghanistan)
Bactria (the northwestern portion of ancient Afghanistan and Tajikistan), also known as Balkh, was a province of the Persian Empire bounded by Parthia, Aria, Drangiana and Arachosia, which was partly conquered by Alexander the Great.
Afghanistan - Achaemenid Rule, ca. 550-331 B.C.
In ancient Afghanistan, Bactriana, with its capital at Bactria (which later became Balkh), was reputedly the home of Zoroaster, who founded the religion that bears his name.
Studies in Mithraism
Mithraism was an offshoot of the religion of Zoroaster or Zarathustra, which began in Bactria. Ahura Mazda was the sole god as well as the creator god.
Bactrian
Tha language of the ancient Bactrians was written using the Greek alphabet as a result of the conquest of Bactria by Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C.
Chronological History of Afghanistan
Timeline of ancient Afghanistan showing the various invasions, from 50,000 B.C. to A.D. 652 and the introduction of Islam.
Chronological History of Afghanistan
Table of major events and eras in Afghanistani history from 50,000 B.C. (evidence of domesticated plants) to A.D. 2001 and the Taliban.
Coins and History of Asia
Coins from the Kushan and Hunnic empires and from Central Asia, covering Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian and Indo-Parthian kingdoms, and Sacaraucae.
Old Balkh
Rameen Javid Moshref tells the history of the area in which Zoroastrianism first developed. Balkh is also known as Paktra, but was called Bactria by classical writers.