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[[File:Darius.jpg|thumb|220px]]

[[File:Darius.jpg|thumb|220px]]

Many dynasties have ruled Iran, starting with the Achaemenid (559-330 B.C.) founded by Cyrus the Great. After the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic period (300-250 B.C.) came the Parthian (250 B.C.-226 A.D.) and the Sassanian (226-651) dynasties.  

Many dynasties have ruled Iran, starting with the Achaemenid (559-330 B.C.) founded by Cyrus the Great. After the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic period (300-250 B.C.) came the Parthian (250 B.C.-224 A.D.) and the Sassanian (224-651) dynasties.  

==Darius and Xerxes==

==Darius and Xerxes==

The sixth millennium B.C. saw a fairly sophisticated agricultural society and proto-urban population centers.  The Persian Empire came into being in 539 B.C. with the defeat of the [[Babylonian Empire]] and continued under other famous rulers such as [[Darius]] and [[Xerxes]] until it was conquered and largely absorbed by [[Alexander the Great]] in 330 B.C.   

The sixth millennium B.C. saw a fairly sophisticated agricultural society and proto-urban population centers.  The Persian Empire came into being in 539 B.C. with the defeat of the [[Babylonian Empire]] and continued under other famous rulers such as [[Darius]] and [[Xerxes]] until it was conquered and largely absorbed by [[Alexander the Great]] in 330 B.C.   

==Later empire==

==Later empire==

[[File:Map of Persia - Bahrein.jpg|thumb|240px|Map of the Persian Gulf, 1747.]]

[[File:Map of Persia - Bahrein.jpg|thumb|240px|Map of the Persian Gulf, 1747.]]

The later Persian Empire re-emerged in 226 A.D. and outlived the Western [[Roman Empire]] until it was overrun by invading forces from the area around today's [[Saudi Arabia]].  

The later Persian (Sasanian) Empire was founded by Ardashir I in 224 A.D., when he defeated the last Parthian king<ref> and outlived the Western [[Roman Empire]] until it was overrun by invading forces from the area around today's [[Saudi Arabia]].  

For recent history see: [[History of Iran]]

For recent history see: [[History of Iran]]