Greco-Bactria:Assets: Difference between revisions
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Bactria and Sogdia are actually quite wealthy, despite being so remote and in such a harsh land. | Bactria and Sogdia are actually quite wealthy, despite being so remote and in such a harsh land. | ||
This is mainly due to the fact that it has a lot of trade between East and West, since it is part of the Silk road. | |||
== Military == | Bactria also known for its deposits of Lapiz Lazuli (''provide source''). | ||
Additionally, there are untapped natural resources. It is estimated that there are [https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1214/PDF/11.0-dimension-stone-FINAL.pdf 60 deposits of dimension stone] in modern-day Afghanistan. | |||
==Military == | |||
30,000 Greek mercenaries were initially stationed around Bactria and Sogdia! (need source) | 30,000 Greek mercenaries were initially stationed around Bactria and Sogdia! (need source) | ||
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Hence one of the early goals will be to convince some of the native leaders to lend their military forces. | Hence one of the early goals will be to convince some of the native leaders to lend their military forces. | ||
== Population == | ==Population== | ||
=== Bactria === | ===Bactria === | ||
It's known as the land of a thousand towns, and it did have rich arable land due to the alluvial plains, but the population seems fairly modest. | It's known as the land of a thousand towns, and it did have rich arable land due to the alluvial plains, but the population seems fairly modest. | ||
Known settlements as of the time of the Greco-Bactrian empire and before: | Known settlements as of the time of the Greco-Bactrian empire and before: | ||
* [ | *[[wikipedia:Balkh|Bactra / Balkh]]: The capital. See my math elsewhere about it having a population of about 55,000 supporting it, and hence a population of up to 10,000. Important center of Zoroastrianism worship. | ||
* [ | *[[wikipedia:Ai-Khanoum|Alexandria Oxiana / Ai-Khanoum]]: Founded by Alexander the Great, so initially expected to be small. Has a decent amount of irrigated land around it though. | ||
* [ | *[[wikipedia:Kunduz|Kunduz / Drapsaca]]: One of the major cities with lots of irrigated land around it. Alexander the Great passes through this city in his conquest of the Bactria region. | ||
* Surhk Kotal: Has a good amount of irrigated land. | *Surhk Kotal: Has a good amount of irrigated land. | ||
* Tilia Tepe: Smaller outlying town, but also the furthest West and the first settlement that traders (and conquerors) would normally encounter. | * Tilia Tepe: Smaller outlying town, but also the furthest West and the first settlement that traders (and conquerors) would normally encounter. | ||
The following might be part of Bactria as well: | The following might be part of Bactria as well: | ||
* Alexandria in the Caucasus: Founded by Alexander. | *Alexandria in the Caucasus: Founded by Alexander. | ||
* Begram | *Begram | ||
* Kabul: capital of modern-day Afghanistan | *Kabul: capital of modern-day Afghanistan | ||
Note that modern-day Mazari Sharif did not exist back then. It was actually created because Bactra/Balkh was suffering so much from diseases that the ruler moved the people to a place that wouldn't suffer from the annual flooding and the rampant hygiene problems. | Note that modern-day Mazari Sharif did not exist back then. It was actually created because Bactra/Balkh was suffering so much from diseases that the ruler moved the people to a place that wouldn't suffer from the annual flooding and the rampant hygiene problems. | ||
=== Sogdia === | ===Sogdia=== | ||
* Termez: ... | *Termez: ... | ||
* Samarkand: ... | *Samarkand: ... | ||