Table of contents : Introduction Abbreviations Chapter I. Geographical Survey Chapter II. Demography Chapter III. Pre-Iranian History of the Plateau and Central Asia Chapter IV. Medes, Scythians and Eastern Rulers Chapter V. Achaemenids Chapter VI. Alexander the Great and the Seleucids Chapter VII. Greco-Bactrians, Sakas and Parthians Chapter VIII. The Parthians on the Plateau Chapter IX. The Kushans Chapter X. Minor Dynasties on the Plateau Chapter XI. The Sasanians Chapter XII. Eastern Iran and Central Asia APPENDICES Appendix 1. Genealogical Tables of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian Dynasties Appendix 2. The Behistun Inscription of Darius near Kermanshah, Iran Appendix 3. The Bactrian Inscription of Surkh Kotal near Baghlan in Afghanistan Appendix 4. The Inscription of Shapur I at Naqsh-e Rustam in Fars Appendix 5. The MP Inscription of Narseh at Paikuli north of Khanaqin, Iraq Index Maps