The Dahae confederacy, of which the Parni tribe was a part, controlled the lands east of the Caspian Sea. Their control extended to the Aral sea into Chorasmia. The Parni tribe eventually moved south into the area of what is now northeastern Iran. It is unclear whether this occurred as part of an invasion or was a gradual movement of nomadic groups. Chorasmia itself at this time shows signs of considerable damage to some cities, in the archeological record and seems to indicate that the conquest was both recent and unpleasant. Around 300 BC there are indication that they were responsible for the damage done to Alexandreia in Margiana. The Dahae had been moving generally west which can be loosely tracked by references in Hellenic sources and the archeology. Strabo reports that Arsaces (this may have only been a tribal title) was said to be the chief of the (S)parnoi tribe of the Dahae.

What is known is the details of the Andragoras revolt that Steppe Merc posted. The Parni soon became known as Parthians (Pahlavans) from the province of Parthava (Parthia), which the Greeks called Parthyaia. Their arrival was largely welcomed by the Iranian peoples, but not by all. They shared a mutual hostility with the Persians proper from the province of Persis in southern Iran. This is not the same as 'Persians' in the greater sense. They were much friendlier with the Medians of the north and their languages were related. The culture of the Medians (Mada) was more inclined towards the nomadic nature of Eranshahr (Iran) than the more settled Persians of Persis were. The Parthians got along with the north Iranian peoples better than with those of the south. The Sassanid Persians would eventually arise from the province of Persis and achieve the final victory in a feud lasting hundreds of years.

They proceeded to conquer the Seleucid realm, and the Greeks being of a more feminine nature were unable to resist the advances of the more viral Parthians. Parthian rule was always largely decentralized and in many ways similar to the european feudal states. They promoted the Achaemenid Persian heritage but also stood as protectors of the Hellenistic tradition as well. Greek was retained as an official language of the kingdom. The Greek cities were largely autonomous which the concept of the Hellenic Polis was very comfortable with.

Some have speculated that Greek infantry from these cities may have been available to the Parthians, but as there is no western record of their use and the bulk of the Parthian records remain untranslated it must remain speculation only. It is known that they employed captured Greek heavy infantry and Romans when the opportunity arose. The division of Parthian society between Azad, "freemen" and Bandaka, "slaves" is a fable of Hellenic records. Everyone from the highest nobles down were defined as bandaka, the word meant 'bondsmen' or 'retainers', what we mean by the word 'subject'. We are all subjects of the Queen, but not her slaves.



At the start of the time in question they controlled the regions north of khurasan and Chorsamia, both of which they would lose as their empire developed.