Achaemenid Empire

Achaemenid Empire was an empire in Iran (Middle East) that lasted from 550 to 330 BCE, about 220 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

Cyrus the Great and his successors built the largest empire yet seen, from Egypt and Thrace to the Indus, joined by the Royal Road and run by satraps. Alexander destroyed it after Gaugamela.

See Achaemenid Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

550 to 330 BCE

Duration

220 years

Type

Empire

Region

Iran, Middle East

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Pasargadae, Persepolis, Susa, Babylon

Came from

• Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 to 539 BCE
• Neo-Elamite period c. 1100 to 539 BCE
• Median kingdom c. 678 to 550 BCE

Became

• Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 539 BCE Cyrus takes Babylon
• 331 BCE Battle of Gaugamela

Neighbours in Middle East

• Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE
• Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE
• Greek cities of Asia Minor c. 1050 to 129 BCE
• Phoenician city-states c. 1200 to 332 BCE
• Lydia c. 680 to 546 BCE
• Median kingdom c. 678 to 550 BCE
• Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 to 539 BCE
• Dilmun c. 2800 to 544 BCE
• Kingdom of Hadramawt c. 800 BCE to 300 CE
• Kingdom of Qataban c. 800 BCE to 200 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
• Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe
• Empire of Alexander the Great 336 to 323 BCE, Europe

Questions