Balkh

City · c. 247 BCE · in Europe

Capital of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (247 BCE–127 BCE), Sasanian Empire (215–643), Indo-Sasanian Empire (260–357).

Ctesiphon (c. 239 BCE – c. 637 CE): Capital of Parthian Empire (239 BCE–224).
Nisa (c. 239 BCE – c. 224 CE): Capital of Parthian Empire (239 BCE–224).
Caesarea of Cappadocia (c. 239 BCE – c. 17 CE): Capital of Kingdom of Cappadocia (239 BCE–17).
Hecatompylos (c. 239 BCE – c. 224 CE): Capital of Parthian Empire (239 BCE–224).
Co Loa Citadel (c. 256 BCE – c. 965 CE): Capital of Âu Lac (256 BCE–207 BCE), Ngô Dynasty (947–965).
Xianyang (c. 218–206 BCE): Capital of Qin Dynasty (218 BCE–209 BCE), Zhai (208 BCE–206 BCE).
Aigio (c. 279 BCE): Capital of Achaean League (279 BCE–146 BCE).
Amasya (c. 281 BCE): Capital of Kingdom of Pontus (281 BCE–183 BCE).
Cherchell (c. 212 BCE): Capital of Mauretania (212 BCE–42).
Chang'an (202 BCE): Capital of the Western Han, Sui and Tang dynasties; under the Tang it was one of the largest cities in the world. Modern Xi'an stands on the site.

Around the same time and place

Sogdians (c. 500 BCE – c. 900 CE): Iranian people of the Zeravshan valley around Samarkand and Bukhara whose merchants dominated trade along the Silk Roads, especially between the 4th and 8th centuries.
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (c. 256–120 BCE): Hellenistic kingdom established when the satrap Diodotus broke away from the Seleucid Empire around 256 BCE, centred on Bactra (Balkh).
Parthian Empire founded (c. 247 BCE): The Parni under Arsaces I founded the Arsacid dynasty in northeastern Iran; the Parthian Empire became Rome's main rival in the east until 224 CE.
Saka (c. 700 BCE – c. 100 CE): Iranian-speaking nomadic peoples of the Eurasian steppe, related to the Scythians, who later migrated into Bactria and north-western India.
Ai-Khanoum (c. 280–145 BCE): Hellenistic city on the Oxus in northern Afghanistan with a theatre, gymnasium and Greek inscriptions; it was destroyed around 145 BCE.