Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Foreign / northwestern kingdom
Level 2
c. 256–125 BCE
Hellenistic kingdom north of the Hindu Kush whose rulers later invaded India.
- Capital
- Bactra
- Region
- Northwest
- Duration
- 131 years
- Main period
- Mauryan Empire
Approximate extent.
📚 Recommended reading on the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Overlap: 131 years
Mauryan Empire ★
Pan-Indian · c. 321–185 BCE
Overlap: 71 years
Satavahana Empire ★
Deccan · c. 200 BCE – c. 225 CE
Overlap: 75 years
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 131 years
Early Cholas (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 131 years
Early Cheras (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 131 years
Mahameghavahana (Chedi) of Kalinga
East · c. 200 BCE – c. 50 CE
Overlap: 75 years
Indo-Greek Kingdoms
Northwest · c. 200 BCE – c. 10 CE
Overlap: 75 years
Shunga Dynasty
Gangetic Plain · c. 185–73 BCE
Overlap: 60 years