town in N Afghanistan: site of an ancient city that flourished as the capital of Bactria &, later (7th-13th cent.), as a center of Islam
See Balkh in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(bälk) Formerly Bac·tra(băkˈtrə)
An ancient city in present-day northern Afghanistan. One of the world's oldest settlements, it was the capital of Bactria and is the legendary birthplace of the prophet Zoroaster.