Median kingdom

Median kingdom was a state in Iran (Middle East) that lasted from c. 678 to 550 BCE, about 128 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

Iranian kingdom that under Cyaxares joined Babylon to destroy Assyria in 612 BCE. Cyrus the Persian overthrew his grandfather, the Median king Astyages, in 550 BCE.

See Median kingdom on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 678 to 550 BCE

Duration

128 years

Type

State

Region

Iran, Middle East

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Ecbatana (Hamadan)

Came from

• Iranian-speaking pastoralists c. 1200 to 700 BCE

Became

• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 612 BCE Fall of Nineveh
• 587 BCE Destruction of Jerusalem

Neighbours in Middle East

• Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE
• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 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
• Kingdom of Judah c. 930 to 587 BCE
• Urartu c. 860 to 590 BCE
• Lydia c. 680 to 546 BCE
• Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 to 539 BCE
• Dilmun c. 2800 to 544 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe

Questions