Bactria (Achaemenid satrapy)

Bactria (Achaemenid satrapy) was an empire in Transoxiana and Khwarazm (Central and North Asia) that lasted from c. 545 to 330 BCE, about 215 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

The great eastern province of the Persian Empire, conquered by Cyrus the Great and usually governed by a royal prince. Its satrap Bessus killed Darius III in 330 BCE, and Alexander spent three years subduing Bactria and Sogdiana.

See Bactria (Achaemenid satrapy) on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 545 to 330 BCE

Duration

215 years

Type

Empire

Region

Transoxiana and Khwarazm, Central and North Asia

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Bactra (Balkh)

Became

• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom c. 256 to 125 BCE

Events in Central and North Asia during its time

• 530 BCE Cyrus the Great killed by the Massagetae

Neighbours in Central and North Asia

• Sogdiana c. 545 BCE to 722 CE
• Ancient Chorasmia c. 600 BCE to 305 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
• Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe
• Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE, Middle East
• Empire of Alexander the Great 336 to 323 BCE, Europe

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