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Persian Royal Road

Type Object Region West Asia Time c. -500–-330

The Persian Royal Road was the Achaemenid Empire's relay trunk road from Asia Minor to Mesopotamia, linking Sardis and Susa;…

Timeline

  1. c. -500–-486Asia Minor to Mesopotamia · West AsiaDarius I integrated and improved existing trade and military routes, building the Royal Road to connect the empire's western frontier with the central heartland, with relay stations along the way for horse-changing and rest.
  2. c. -480–-400Entire Royal Road · Persian EmpireAt the empire's height the Royal Road became the main artery for edicts and trade; Herodotus records that relay messengers could travel from Sardis to Susa in days, far exceeding ordinary marching speed.
  3. -334–-330Susa · SusaAlexander's eastern campaign interrupted the empire's unified relay system; the Royal Road's role as imperial trunk road ended with the fall of the Achaemenids, but its sections were still used by later trade routes.

Sources