How did Greek communities in Central Asia preserve their identity far from the Mediterranean world, and why did that identity ultimately disappear? Focusing on Ai Khanoum and Hellenistic Baktria, this book examines the social, political, and religious structures that sustained Greek culture under changing conditions. Drawing on archaeological evidence, ancient historians, inscriptions, and numismatic data, it argues that Hellenism in Central Asia remained highly localized and socially exclusive. The study reassesses assumptions about “Hellenization,” explores the limits of cultural integration between Greeks and indigenous populations, and traces how Greek institutions were adapted, appropriated, and absorbed by later powers, including the Kushans.