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Bactria: The History of a Forgotten Empire
An Important Account of the Greek State That Ruled the Hindu Kush for Centuries in the Wake of Alexander the Great
“If through the Bactrian Empire European ideas were transmitted to the Far East, through that and similar channels Asiatic ideas found their way to Europe.”— Intellectual Development of Europe
Following the Macedonian invasion of Persian in the fourth century B.C., an independent Greek-ruled empire emerged over an area encompassing modern Afghanistan, eastern Iran, and northern Pakistan. This ancient empire, called Bactria, is recorded in texts, both Asian and European, as well as through coins, inscriptions, and architectural remnants. Bactria served as a contact point between Europe, South Asia, and the Far East for more than two hundred years before disappearing under the pressure of a resurgent Persia to the west and Indian states to the east. In The History of a Forgotten Empire , historian Hugh G. Rawlinson begins with the early history of Bactria and its subjugation by Persia, and then describes the conquest of Iran by Alexander the Great and the establishment of an independent Bactria ruled by Greeks. The Bactrians adopted Buddhism early on and helped establish the religion throughout the area. The author then follows the history of the empire through its rulers, including Menander, until Greek rule was extinguished around 135 B.C. Finally, the author discusses the effects of Greek occupation on the region. Based on meticulous research in ancient texts from Greece, Persia, and India, and using material evidence of the time, this history, which won the Hare University Prize at Cambridge in 1909, remains relevant today, providing a fascinating portrait of a little-known connection between East and West.
“If through the Bactrian Empire European ideas were transmitted to the Far East, through that and similar channels Asiatic ideas found their way to Europe.”— Intellectual Development of Europe
Following the Macedonian invasion of Persian in the fourth century B.C., an independent Greek-ruled empire emerged over an area encompassing modern Afghanistan, eastern Iran, and northern Pakistan. This ancient empire, called Bactria, is recorded in texts, both Asian and European, as well as through coins, inscriptions, and architectural remnants. Bactria served as a contact point between Europe, South Asia, and the Far East for more than two hundred years before disappearing under the pressure of a resurgent Persia to the west and Indian states to the east. In The History of a Forgotten Empire , historian Hugh G. Rawlinson begins with the early history of Bactria and its subjugation by Persia, and then describes the conquest of Iran by Alexander the Great and the establishment of an independent Bactria ruled by Greeks. The Bactrians adopted Buddhism early on and helped establish the religion throughout the area. The author then follows the history of the empire through its rulers, including Menander, until Greek rule was extinguished around 135 B.C. Finally, the author discusses the effects of Greek occupation on the region. Based on meticulous research in ancient texts from Greece, Persia, and India, and using material evidence of the time, this history, which won the Hare University Prize at Cambridge in 1909, remains relevant today, providing a fascinating portrait of a little-known connection between East and West.
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2013
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About the author
Hugh George Rawlinson
16 books5 followersWrote most frequently under "H.G. Rawlinson"
Hugh George Rawlinson was born in Middlesborough in 1880 and went, as a scholar, to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He graduated with a First Class degree in the Classics Tripos and gained the Hare University Prize. In 1903 he joined the Education Service of the Government of Ceylon and in 1908 moved to the Indian Education Service. He became Principal of the Karnatak College in Dharwar and later, Principal of Deccan College in Poona, where he stayed until his retirement in 1933.
Rawlinson was a prolific writer about Indian history and related themes and also acted as editor for several volumes. On his return to England he lectured in Classics at Birkbeck College, London. He was a Member of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1944-1954 and wrote an article, "Indian Influences on Western Culture" (JRAS 1947, pp.142-150) for the Journal of the Society. He died, in London, on 8 June 1957.
Hugh George Rawlinson was born in Middlesborough in 1880 and went, as a scholar, to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He graduated with a First Class degree in the Classics Tripos and gained the Hare University Prize. In 1903 he joined the Education Service of the Government of Ceylon and in 1908 moved to the Indian Education Service. He became Principal of the Karnatak College in Dharwar and later, Principal of Deccan College in Poona, where he stayed until his retirement in 1933.
Rawlinson was a prolific writer about Indian history and related themes and also acted as editor for several volumes. On his return to England he lectured in Classics at Birkbeck College, London. He was a Member of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1944-1954 and wrote an article, "Indian Influences on Western Culture" (JRAS 1947, pp.142-150) for the Journal of the Society. He died, in London, on 8 June 1957.
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February 25, 2018In the decades of chaos following Alexander's flouncing last words, as his vast conquests fragmented into endless squabbling petty kingdoms, a Greek-ish empire arose roughly in Afghanistan - but at times its territory stretched from Iran and Turkmenistan to India. And now, if people recognise its name at all, that's just for the camels (mentioned only once here - and that to note their absence from the ancient sources). Rawlinson's really not kidding about that 'forgotten' - this is not just information which is obscure to the general reader*, it's a tapestry of shadows and guesswork. The list even of Bactria's rulers is spotty, and can at best be pieced tentatively together from fragmentary ancient sources (probably inexact even when they were complete) and numismatic inference. Even the one name among them that sparks some glimmer of recognition, Menander, has such basic details as the decades of his reign shrouded in doubt. There were great wars and mighty feats of valour (at one siege, hundreds stood against tens of thousands - and prevailed) - and half the time, not only are the individual soldiers' names lost to us, but we don't even know for sure who the enemy was or what the fight was about. A melancholy reminder of quite how much oblivion has claimed, and how a glorious ruler of sweeping dominions may go further into the darkness even than Ozymandias.
*'General reader' having a different meaning in 1912 to now, given the introductory assertion that they are the intended audience, followed by various untranslated passages in Latin, Greek and even Sanskrit. And while that makes this monograph (whatever happened to monographs?) sound like the product of a much more civilised age, one conversely hopes that by his death in the fifties, Rawlinson was perhaps a little less free with the comfortable assertions of Aryan supremacy to the "native stock".
*'General reader' having a different meaning in 1912 to now, given the introductory assertion that they are the intended audience, followed by various untranslated passages in Latin, Greek and even Sanskrit. And while that makes this monograph (whatever happened to monographs?) sound like the product of a much more civilised age, one conversely hopes that by his death in the fifties, Rawlinson was perhaps a little less free with the comfortable assertions of Aryan supremacy to the "native stock".
June 19, 2019
My ratings of books on Goodreads are solely a crude ranking of their utility to me, and not an evaluation of literary merit, entertainment value, social importance, humor, insightfulness, scientific accuracy, creative vigor, suspensefulness of plot, depth of characters, vitality of theme, excitement of climax, satisfaction of ending, or any other combination of dimensions of value which we are expected to boil down through some fabulous alchemy into a single digit.
April 21, 2023
This book was short and sweet. What threw me off was that it was written in the early 1900s I really didn’t expect that, I expected at the oldest the 1980s. It talks about coins and archaeological finds in India and I wonder if in the time from writing this book to now, has there been more finds? The book was fun to read and interesting and the facts about Bactria were really cool. How Alexander the Great made it there and ruled and then died and the kingdom of Bactria was ruled by more people, most notably Menander I. After the 200 or so years of Greek/Hellenistic rule in Bactria (which is basically northern India and Pakistan today) the kingdom essentially fell. The Greek influence wained and Indian and Parthian and Syrian influence took over in that area. It is a really cool story for 200-300 years the Greeks ruled that area essentially isolated from Europe because they were surrounded by others and over time the Greeks probably intermarried with the people who were there before until who knows what exactly happened. I recommend this book if you’re interested in old greek stuff around and a little before the time of Christ. Only about 145ish pages too so it’s quick!
4/5
4/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
As a person of Hellenic descent this was a fascinating though a little dry read about the history of the area known as Bactria after its conquering by Alexander the Great around 330BC.
This huge area straddling modern Afghanistan , Pakistan and India was for 300 years ruled, populated and influenced by Greeks and this may be the earliest recorded time when Chinese and European peoples crossed paths and exchanged goods and ideas as Sogdia it's capital was a bustling market place and melting pot where all cultures gathered. Greek influences permeated India in architecture, philosophy and coin minting though these influences seemed to have been lost over time.
Not till Marco Polo 1200 years after Bactria's demise do Europeans and the far East come into contact again.
This huge area straddling modern Afghanistan , Pakistan and India was for 300 years ruled, populated and influenced by Greeks and this may be the earliest recorded time when Chinese and European peoples crossed paths and exchanged goods and ideas as Sogdia it's capital was a bustling market place and melting pot where all cultures gathered. Greek influences permeated India in architecture, philosophy and coin minting though these influences seemed to have been lost over time.
Not till Marco Polo 1200 years after Bactria's demise do Europeans and the far East come into contact again.
January 16, 2024
3.5. The issue lies on the date of publication: 1912. The descriptions and narration are just an exercise of academic history: battles, economy and a few of art. Said that, if you are really in love with the topic you'll find it surprising!
Although conceived as a pioneer account of what was known a century ago, it paved the way (and foresee) all what was going to be unearthed and unconvered until today. Now it is well known that the influence of greek culture (through Roman trade, at least) was bold and stunning in the Kushan kingdom... and beyond...And many scholars even agree that greek literature shines behind Mahabharata!
Worth reading as an introduction to one of the forgotten chapters of the Ancient era.
Although conceived as a pioneer account of what was known a century ago, it paved the way (and foresee) all what was going to be unearthed and unconvered until today. Now it is well known that the influence of greek culture (through Roman trade, at least) was bold and stunning in the Kushan kingdom... and beyond...And many scholars even agree that greek literature shines behind Mahabharata!
Worth reading as an introduction to one of the forgotten chapters of the Ancient era.
August 3, 2018
To be an old book it is very concise and clear. It lacks a more liable time line of the events that happened in Bactria, but it is understandable that there are little information about the subject, especially more than 100 years ago. It doesn't jump to conclusions quickly. It is a very good introduction, though.
September 22, 2022
Interesting book, but dated with typos
I wouldn't have thought that there was a Greek kingdom at the doorstep of India, but there was. This book details the story of this kingdom. I learned some interesting things, however as the title suggests, the book is quite dated and has typos. However it does give an in depth history of this forgotten kingdom
I wouldn't have thought that there was a Greek kingdom at the doorstep of India, but there was. This book details the story of this kingdom. I learned some interesting things, however as the title suggests, the book is quite dated and has typos. However it does give an in depth history of this forgotten kingdom
May 8, 2021
Docmtl
A nice discovery of an ancient Greek empire in the East. I liked the introduction and the overall historical presentation, less so the PhD-thesis style of the commebts and the fast-forward description of the later Bactrian rulers. Worth reading.
A nice discovery of an ancient Greek empire in the East. I liked the introduction and the overall historical presentation, less so the PhD-thesis style of the commebts and the fast-forward description of the later Bactrian rulers. Worth reading.
August 7, 2014
Quite basic and old school, but considering the era it is from-remarkably even-handed.
January 25, 2015
A history of Bactria - rather interesting, but outdated (obviously).
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews