Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

State · 247–127 BCE · at its largest around 170 BCE

Hellenistic kingdom in Bactria, in present-day Afghanistan and Central Asia, founded by Diodotus after breaking away from the Seleucids.

On its lands while it lasted

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.
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.
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).
Balkh (c. 247 BCE): Capital of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (247 BCE–127 BCE), Sasanian Empire (215–643), Indo-Sasanian Empire (260–357).
Zhang Qian’s mission to the Western Regions (c. 138–126 BCE): Sent by Emperor Wu of Han to seek allies against the Xiongnu, Zhang Qian was held captive for about ten years before reaching Ferghana and Bactria. His reports opened Han contacts with Central Asia and the Silk Road.
Silk Road (c. 130 BCE – c. 1450 CE): A network of overland caravan routes linking China with Central Asia, Persia and the Mediterranean, along which silk, spices, horses, religions, technologies and diseases travelled for more than 1,500 years.