AHC: Longer surviving Bactrian Kingdom

Just realised Bactria was a Greco-Indian country and hosted Greek culture for a very long time in isolation from Europe. Very interesting stuff.

And then of course it was destroyed in three centuries by foreign peoples.

Not particularly sure how, but is there a way to make the Bactrian Kingdom survive longer and prosper from its strategic position as the convergence point between major trade routes? Thanks.

Map of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom:
320px-Greco-BactrianKingdomMap.jpg


Map of Indo-Greek Kingdom:
320px-Indo-Greeks_100bc.jpg
 

GdwnsnHo

Banned
Honestly, it is difficult - but they need to integrate some nomadic tribes into the Kingdom, and ensure their strength and loyalty, to form the base of a strong cavalry arm of the military. That will certainly help them control the Steppe - something they sorely need to do considering their position. If they can have a strong steppe presence that can push north and east - and prevent the Yuezhi issues before they happen (plus control overland trade).

Follow this with expansion into both the Iranian Plateau. I mean all of the Plateau, Mesopotamia is nice, but it the perfect place for an ambitious governor to try and rebel from - why bother with it, either set up a client state there and in Armenia - and then fortify the borders.

Fortify the passage from the Tarim Basin to Central Asia - control over this would be one hell of a boon, and works as a perfect defensive fortress if the Chinese ever feel like coming west. Steppes in the north where the nomads can wreck them, and an impenetrable fortress blocking the other route.

Meanwhile, there need to be more Greek Imports. Towns that lie on the Caspian and Aral Seas, that are connected via the nomadic tribes, more Greeks in Bactria Proper - Colonise the Iranian Plateau. Hell, I'd suggest that the trade routes the Bactria controls focuses on bringing in more Greeks, or encouraging them to have kids.

The Bactrian Kingdom would also need flexible governance too. Ruling the Nomadic Tribes with the same structure as the Greek settlements? Don't make me laugh. You're looking at different tax laws, accommodation of grazing lands, and a cut of trade to keep them on side.

The Greeks will want their own province-style governance, or will acquiesce to it as the ruling and merchant classes. They're still the core of any military force that isn't cavalry.

Bactrians themselves? There are a few ways to handle them, encourage Greeks to take on Bactrian brides, to create a hybrid culture, treat them as if they are Greeks from the outset - or my choice, threat them as a third nation within Bactria - we already have the Greeks and the Nomads, the Bactrians may be ruled in a similar way, and encouraged to marry into the Greek families too - but they'd want their own representatives at court.

So you'd end up with three major factions, the Nomads, the Greeks, and the Bactrians pushing the King for policy - each providing men, money, and resources.

You'll also want numerous royal marriages to tie Greeks, Bactrians and Nomads together, until the biggest distinction is between the City, the Villages, and the Steppe.

I'd personally avoid Indian conquests - it is a distraction. But if a ruler is to do anything in that direction, small, colonisable conquests are probably the best approach, until the Hindu Kush is a Greco-Bactrian stronghold. Then India may be an achievable conquest.
 
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