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The '''Persian Empire''', in antiquity, was the largest geographical empire in its time, at its height stretching from [[India]] (at the [[Ganges]] and [[Mula]], respectively) all the way into southern [[Europe]] and down to [[Egypt]], primarily under [[Cyrus the Great]]. It had not known defeat until it was turned back in its efforts to conquer [[Ancient Greece]].  It had two capitals: [[Susa]] and [[Persepolis]].

The '''Persian Empire''', in antiquity, was the largest geographical empire in its time, at its height stretching from [[India]] (at the [[Ganges]] and [[Mula]], respectively) all the way into southern [[Europe]] and down to [[Egypt]], primarily under [[Cyrus the Great]]. It had not known defeat until it was turned back in its efforts to conquer [[Ancient Greece]].  It had two capitals: [[Susa]] and [[Persepolis]].

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 Persian Empire and several of its rulers are discussed in the [[Bible]] in the books of [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] and [[Book of Ester|Esther]].

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 Persian Empire and several of its rulers are discussed in the [[Bible]] in the books of [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] and [[Book of Ester|Esther]].  Roughly sixty years after the death of Alexander the Pontics, Medes, and Ionian Gallatians revolted and separated themselves from the Seleucid state.  These peoples later amalgamated to form part of the Parthian Empire.

A later Persian Empire re-emerged in 226 A.D. and outlived the Western [[Roman Empire]].  After a devastating war with the [[Byzantine Empire]] that left both sides severely drained, [[Islam]] came on the scene from what is now [[Saudi Arabia]] and completely conquered the Persian Empire in a quick campaign that ended in 651 A.D.

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]].  

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