The Kushan Empire began in the 1st century AD, encompassed what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan and beyond and was born of a line of nomads that formed an empire.
A coin hoard found at Mojenjo-Daro, one of the oldest historic cities in the world, is shining a light on the rich Buddhist heritage that once thrived in the region.
Noahâs Ark on Mount Ararat is even featured on Armeniaâs National Coat of Arms.
Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi (410-490 AD) recounted the tradition that Noahâs son Japheth had a descendant named Hayk who shot an arrow in a battle near Lake Van c.2,500 BC killing Nimrod, builder of the Tower of Babel â the first tyrant of the ancient world.
Hayk is the origin of âHayastan,â the Armenian name for Armenia.
Ancient Armenians may have had some relations with the Hittites and Hurrians, who inhabited that area known as Anatolia in the 2nd millenium BC.
Armeniaâs major city of Yerevan, founded in 782 BC in the shadow of Mount Ararat, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.