Balkh

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/balkh

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Balkh?Balkh Province, Afghanistan, approximately 20 km northwest of Mazar-i-Sharif
2. How many people live in Balkh?Estimated 114,883 residents (2024), making it the eighth largest settlement
3. How big is Balkh?The town is situated near the seasonally flowing Balkh River
4. What is the capital of Balkh?Balkh is a town within Balkh Province
5. What language do people speak in Balkh?Dari is the predominant language spoken
6. When was Balkh built?Ancient origins, with historical records dating back millennia

Bactria: An ancient region in Central Asia, of which Balkh (Bactra) was a major city and capital.
Zoroastrianism: An ancient Persian religion that was influential in Balkh, predating many other major faiths.
Shambhala: A mythical hidden kingdom in Tibetan Buddhism, with which some theories associate the ancient city of Balkh.
Archaeological Sites: Locations containing remnants of past human activity, providing evidence of ancient civilizations and their influence.