Persian Empire
Cyrus's vast domain
The Persian Empire refers to a series of imperial dynasties centered in present-day Iran, most notably the Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE.
At its height, it stretched from Egypt to India, becoming one of the largest empires in ancient history.
The term appears in historical and biblical contexts: The Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BCE.
Later Persian empires include the Parthian and Sasanian dynasties.
First Achaemenid emperor
- PersepolisAchaemenid Empire's grand capital
- BabylonAncient Mesopotamian capital
- satrapSubordinate provincial ruler
- ImmortalsThose beyond death
Behistun Inscription · Alexander the Great · Herodotus · conquest · fall of Babylon
Ancient dualistic Persian religion
- NowruzIranian New Year festival
- FarsiIran's native tongue
- fire templeZoroastrian house of worship
- miniature paintingSmall detailed painted artwork
Persian royal name
- DariusPersian royal name
- XerxesAchaemenid king of kings
- successionFollowing in order
- reignSovereign's time in power
Cyrus the Great
First Achaemenid emperor
- PersepolisAchaemenid Empire's grand capital
- BabylonAncient Mesopotamian capital
- satrapSubordinate provincial ruler
Immortals · Behistun Inscription · Alexander the Great · Herodotus · conquest · fall of Babylon
Zoroastrianism
Ancient dualistic Persian religion
- NowruzIranian New Year festival
- FarsiIran's native tongue
- fire templeZoroastrian house of worship
miniature painting · calligraphy · garden design · Rumi · cuneiform
Cyrus
Persian royal name
- DariusPersian royal name
- XerxesAchaemenid king of kings
- successionFollowing in order
reign · throne · royal lineage
satrapy
Provincial administrative district
- provincesAdministrative regions within nations
- tributeOffering of respect
- AnatoliaWestern Asian peninsula
Mesopotamia · Egypt · Ionia · Lydia · Phoenicia · Judea · vassal states · taxation · realm · dominion
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- civilizationempires, civilizations, dynasty, kingdoms, society
- empiresemperor, empress
- historical erasStone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Middle Ages, Renaissance
- Greco-Persian WarsThermopylae, Marathon, Salamis, Xerxes, Darius
- IranIran, Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Farsi
Persian EmpireGreek city-states
Ancient independent urban communities
Ancient Greece · Roman Empire · Sparta · Athens · Byzantine Empire
Persian EmpireAthenian democracy
Ancient Greek participatory government
Greek democracy · Roman Republic · city-state · polis · republican government
imperial, Persian, Persia, Empire, Iranian, imperium, Persians, Parthian