The Persian Empire (jan 1, 559 BC – jan 1, 330 BC)

Description:

The Persian or Achaemenid Empire, centered around modern day Iran, was at its time the largest in the world and at the time of Darius the Great stretched from the Balkans (Modern day Macedonia) and Egypt to the Indus River Valley in the East.

Known for their massive diversity and administrative capabilities in maintaining centralised authority. Its roads, postal service and armies were all testaments to the successful application of their model.

They conquered the preceding Babylonians and liberated many of the oppressed peoples who were slaves there, among them were many Jews who would go on to call him a Messiah, the only non-Jewish figure to be considered as such.

They would ultimately be defeated by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, who conquered a weakened and somewhat divided Persian Empire.

They would remain a hugely influential force religiously and culturally with the worship of Zoroastrianism being a remnant of their age.

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