Central Asia in the Achaemenid period

Abstract

The Achaemenid domination of Central Asia during the 6th to 4th centuries BCE constitutes one of the most important episodes in Central Asia’s history. During the Achaemenid period, Central Asia formed a large constituency of the Persian Empire, consisting of several satrapies, or provinces. For the first time, the region is clearly documented in historical texts. Following the collapse of the Achaemenid Empire. Despite these assumptions, the extent of Central Asia’s integration into the Achaemenid Empire has up until now been the subject of heated debate. Literary sources discussing Central Asia before the Achaemenid period are extremely rare, fragmentary, and somewhat unreliable. The scraps of information recorded by contemporary Greek authors such as Herodotos, Ktesias, and Xenophon almost exclusively concern Bactria. They portray Bactria as a place of military might and impressive wealth.