Exploring the interactions of the Buddhist world with the dominant cultures of Iran in pre- and post-Islamic times, Vaziri demonstrates that the traces and cross-influences of Buddhism have brought the material and spiritual culture of Iran to its present state even after the term was eradicated from the literary and popular language of the region.

The Seleukid kingdom was one of the greatest states of the ancient world, stretching from Greece to India; it is also one of the least known. This reference work lists all the people whose names are known who lived in that kingdom, classifying them into rulers, officials and subjects, and in each case noting their activity. In addition all the foreigners whose lives affected the Seleukid state are listed. The Gazetteer lists the places which were included in the kingdom, classified as regions, including provinces and peoples, or settlements, whether cities or villages, with a description of their place in its history. In addition the institutions of the kingdom, the social and political glue which made it work, are noted and briefly described.