"The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; Old Persian: ๐ง๐๐, Xลกฤรงa, lit. 'The Empire' or 'The Kingdom') was the ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC..."
Examine the rise and fall of the Persian Empire, the largest empire the world had seen up to that point. Study its kings, religion, economy, crafts, and famous battles, such as Marathon and Thermopylae.
Geography of Ancient Persia: This topic covers the location, climate and topography of Ancient Persia, which helps understand the context in which this empire evolved.
Pre-Persian Empires: This topic covers the history of the empires that existed before the Persian Empire, such as the Babylonian, Elamite, and Assyrian empires, which helps understand the background of the Persian Empire.
Rise of the Persian Empire: This topic covers the history of the Achaemenid Dynasty, which founded the Persian Empire, and how it rose to power.
Cyrus the Great: This topic covers the life and achievements of this king and founder of the Persian Empire.
Darius the Great: This topic covers the life and achievements of the king who further expanded the Persian Empire.
Persian Society and Culture: This topic covers the social and cultural norms of Ancient Persia, including its religion, language, and arts.
Persian Military and Warfare: This topic covers the military prowess of the Ancient Persians, including their tactics and weapons.
The Greco-Persian Wars: This topic covers the conflicts between Ancient Persia and Greece, including the famous Battle of Marathon and the Battle of Thermopylae.
Decline and Fall of the Persian Empire: This topic covers the reasons behind the decline and eventual collapse of the Persian Empire.
Legacy of the Persian Empire: This topic covers the lasting impact of the Persian Empire on the subsequent history of the Middle East and the wider world, ranging from architecture to politics.
Achaemenid Empire: This was the first and largest Persian Empire, spanning from 550 to 330 BCE, and was known for its centralized government, sophisticated administrative system, and extensive road network.
Parthian Empire: This empire existed from 247 BCE to 224 CE and was characterized by its nomadic warrior culture and military power, as well as its trade and commerce.
Sassanid Empire: This empire existed from 224 to 651 CE and was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire. It was known for its centralized government, military prowess, and Persian culture.
Median Empire: This empire existed from 678 to 549 BCE and was the first Persian Empire. It was known for its military might and a seat of great innovation in military technology and tactics.
Seleucid Empire: This empire was established in 312 BCE following the death of Alexander the Great and lasted until 64 BCE. It was characterized by a fusion of Hellenic and Persian culture.
Ilkhanate Empire: This empire was established in the 13th century CE by the Mongols and was known for its tolerance of different religions, including Christianity and Judaism.
Safavid Empire: This empire existed from 1501 to 1736 CE and was known for its efforts to impose Shia Islam on the people of Persia, as well as its art and architecture.
Qajar Empire: This empire existed from 1796 to 1925 CE and was characterized by its economic and technological modernization efforts, as well as its centralized government and patronage of the arts.
Pahlavi Empire: This empire existed from 1925 to 1979 CE and was characterized by the centralization of power under the Shah, economic and social reforms, and a shift towards Westernization.
"...based in Western Asia, it was the largest empire the world had ever seen at its time, spanning a total of 5.5 million square kilometres (2.1 million square miles) from the Balkans and Egypt in the west to Central Asia and the Indus Valley in the east."
"Around the 7th century BC, the region of Persis in the southwestern portion of the Iranian plateau was settled by the Persians."
"From Persis, Cyrus rose and defeated the Median Empire as well as Lydia and the Neo-Babylonian Empire..."
"In the modern era, the Achaemenid Empire has been recognized for its imposition of a successful model of centralized, bureaucratic administration; its multicultural policy; building complex infrastructure, such as road systems and an organized postal system; the use of official languages across its territories; and the development of civil services, including its possession of a large, professional army."
"Its advancements inspired the implementation of similar styles of governance by a variety of later empires."
"By 330 BC, the Achaemenid Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great, an ardent admirer of Cyrus the Great..."
"...the conquest marked a key achievement in the then-ongoing campaign of his Macedonian Empire."
"...the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Seleucid Empire, both of which had emerged as successors to the Macedonian Empire following the Partition of Triparadisus in 321 BC."
"Hellenistic rule remained in place for almost a century..."
"...before the Iranian elites of the central plateau reclaimed power under the Parthian Empire."
"...the largest empire the world had ever seen at its time, spanning a total of 5.5 million square kilometres (2.1 million square miles)..."
"cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC..."
"...its imposition of a successful model of centralized, bureaucratic administration; its multicultural policy; building complex infrastructure, such as road systems and an organized postal system; the use of official languages across its territories; and the development of civil services, including its possession of a large, professional army."
"the region of Persis in the southwestern portion of the Iranian plateau was settled by the Persians."
"Cyrus rose and defeated the Median Empire as well as Lydia and the Neo-Babylonian Empire..."
"By 330 BC, the Achaemenid Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great..."
"...the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Seleucid Empire..."
"Alexander's death marks the beginning of the Hellenistic period..."
"...the Iranian elites of the central plateau reclaimed power under the Parthian Empire."