The two essays in this publication are drawn from recent archaeological study of the region that is now Afghanistan. Andrea Di Castro's chapter discusses the role that people living in Bactria played in establishing commercial and cultural exchange along the Silk Road during the Hellenistic and Kushan periods. Colin Hope's chapter draws attention to a new piece of archaeological evidence that helps to support an Egyptian place of manufacture for several items of glassware found in Kushan territory, and which lends support to the significance of the sea route between the two regions.