Parthian Empire

Parthian Empire was an empire in Iran (Middle East) that lasted from 247 BCE to 224 CE, about 470 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

Arsacid dynasty of horse archers from the northeast who took Iran and Mesopotamia from the Seleucids. They destroyed a Roman army at Carrhae in 53 BCE and controlled the Silk Road for four centuries.

See Parthian Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

247 BCE to 224 CE

Duration

470 years

Type

Empire

Region

Iran, Middle East

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Nisa, Hecatompylos, Ctesiphon

Became

• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 53 BCE Battle of Carrhae
• 30 Crucifixion of Jesus
• 70 Romans destroy the Second Temple

Neighbours in Middle East

• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE
• Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE
• Greek cities of Asia Minor c. 1050 to 129 BCE
• Kingdom of Iberia (Kartli) c. 302 BCE to 580 CE
• Himyarite Kingdom c. 110 BCE to 525 CE
• Roman Anatolia 133 BCE to 395 CE
• Roman Syria and Judaea 64 BCE to 395 CE
• Arsacid Armenia 52 to 428 CE
• Palmyra c. 50 BCE to 273 CE
• Nabataean Kingdom c. 168 BCE to 106 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE, Europe
• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE, South Asia
• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE, Central and North Asia
• Ptolemaic Kingdom 305 to 30 BCE, North and West Africa
• Western Han 202 BCE to 9 CE, East Asia

Questions