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142 PART FIVE An Historical Sketch Afghanistan has figured prominently at various times in the history of Central Asia. Few other countries compare with it as regards past history, rich archæological remains and the part played by it in the development of human thought and culture. The history of its civilization goes back at least five thousand years. It was a seat of culture at a time when Egypt and Babylonia were serving the cause of human thought and art. Balkh (Bactria of old) can boast of having been one of the great centres of ancient civilizations. It was from here that the Aryan culture found its way into India and the adjacent countries. And again it was here that Zoroaster preached his religion, which later on became the state religion of Persia for many centuries. Situated in the heart of Asia, Afghanistan naturally became even in those ancient times the meeting ground of at least three great civilizations of the world—Aryan or Bactrian, Græco-Bac- trian, and Græco-Budhist. Similarly, it was a great centre of trade and served as an entrepot of thought and merchandise between India, China and the countries of the West. Later on in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D., Islam infused new life into the country, bringing about a fundamental revolu- tion. The ancient culture was either replaced or came comple- tely under the influence of the new, which has remained the decisive force in Afghan life to this very day. In the early part of the eleventh century A.D., during the Ghaznavide period, Afghanistan once more became a flourishing