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Achaemenid Persian Empire

Type Object Region West Asia Time c. -550–-330

The Achaemenid Persian Empire (c. 550–330 BCE), founded by Cyrus the Great, was the first great empire in history to span three continents, from the …

Timeline

  1. c. -550–-500Iranian Plateau · IranCyrus the Great unified the Persian tribes, conquering Media, Lydia, and Neo-Babylon, and established a provincial empire spanning the Near East; Darius I further implemented the satrap system and standardized administration.
  2. c. -500–-400Aegean Sea and western Anatolia · AnatoliaThe empire fought the Greco-Persian Wars against the Greek city-states; after battles such as Marathon and Salamis, the two sides entered a long standoff. The empire still controlled core provinces such as Asia Minor, the Levant, and Egypt.
  3. -334–-330Gaugamela · IraqAlexander the Great won victory after victory in his eastern campaigns, occupying the Persian heartland after the Battle of Gaugamela; in 330 he burned Persepolis, Darius III was killed, the Achaemenid dynasty ended, and the empire's territories were divided among the successor kingdoms.

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