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HISTORY THE geographical term "Afghanistan" is not the original name of the country. Prior to 1747 it was known as Khorassan, meaning "the land from which the sun rises". The original name of the country, however, as recorded in ancient documents, is Aryana. These documents are the "Vedas" and the "Avesta". The Vedas are collections of hymns and prayers of the Aryan race around the time of their migration south-eastward (to the sub-continent of India) and westward through Persia to the west, about 3,500 years B.C. Both Vedas and the Avesta speak of "Yama", the first King of the Aryans who ruled from Bakhdi, known today as Balkh in the province of Mazar-i-Sharif. The habitat of the early Aryans, according to Avesta, was the country north and south of the Hindukush mountains (extending through the heart of the Afghanistan of today). Thus when the ancient history of Afghanistan, is discussed, one is bound to find oneself talking of Aryana, of Bakhdi and of the people who lived there about 5,000 years ago. According to Avesta, three important dynasties ruled in Aryana. These were the Paradata, the Kavas and the Aspas. Yama was the founder of the first dynasty. The founder of the second dynasty was Kawikwata or Kaykvat. Here again the centre of Government was Balkh, and Alburz, a mountain to its south, was considered a sacred mountain which they called the "Mountain of light and knowledge". Lahr-Aspa was the founder of the third dynasty. It was during the reign of his son, Wishtaspa, that Zaratushtra the Great made his appearance. Zaratushtra, the founder of the doctrine of monotheism and the freedom of will to choose between Good and Evil, was born in Balkh around 1000 B.C. A series of internal and foreign wars during and after the reign of Wishtaspa resulted in feudalism taking the place of one strong Aryan Kingdom at Balkh. This went on till the Achaemenians of Persia came on the scene. Cyrus, the Achaemenian ruler, led his Persian army against the Aryans in battles which lasted five years (549-545 B.C.) and resulted in his death. Percipolis became the centre of the Achaemenian empire, but their rulers took advantage of the experience and knowledge of the Aryans, who were better acquainted with governmental affairs. This has been witnessed by Herodotus in his journeys through Aryana. Feudalism continued as before, and whenever occasion offered, small Aryan kingdoms rose against the Persian rulers and weakened them. This went on until the appearance on the scene of Alexander the Great (334-330 B.C.) when the Persian Empire was broken up and the last of the Achaemenians in Aryan territory was killed. The Afghanistan of that day then braced itself as a united nation against the Greek invader. A feudal ruler, Bessus, was proclaimed King at Balkh This hastened the Greek attack on Afghanistan. Herat was the first bastion which fell to the hand of Alexander. He built Alexandria Aria there, mainly to guard himself against attack from the rear, and went on to Seistan and thence to Arachosia, the Kandahar of today. This was in 329 B.C. From there he headed for the foothills of Hindukush, north of today's Kabul, where he founded a fourth Alexandria, the other two being at Seistan and Kandahar. In the spring of 328 B.C. he crossed the Hindukush via Ghorband and Kazhan to Adrapsaka, the present Andarab. Bessus prepared for the defence of his last stronghold of Balkh. The resulting war lasted two years. Alexander returned south after the conquest of Balkh and the 61