Editing Mazar-i-Sharif (section)

===Ancient period===
The [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenids]] controlled the region from the sixth century BCE. [[Alexander the Great]] conquered the area but it was then incorporated into the [[Seleucid Empire]] after his death. The decline of the Seleucids consequently led to the emergence of the [[Greco-Bactrian Kingdom|Greco-Bactrian kingdom]]. Around 130 BCE, the [[Saka]]s occupied the region and the Greco-Bactrian kingdom fell. The [[Yuezhi]] took Mazar-i-Sharif and the surrounding area which led to the creation of the [[Kushan Empire]]. The [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanians]] subsequently controlled the area after the fall of the Kushans. The Islamic conquests reached Mazar-i-Sharif in 651 CE.<ref>{{Cite book|title=International Dictionary of Historic Places, Volume 5: Asia and Oceania|publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers|year=1996|isbn=1-884964-04-4|editor-last=Schellinger|editor-first=Paul|location=Chicago|pages=578–579|editor-last2=Salkin|editor-first2=Robert}}</ref>