Medes
The Medes, sometimes also known as the Kingdom of Media, were an ancient Indo-European population that originated in central Asia with their capital at Ecbatana. They became well known at first for being legendary cavalrymen, then for destroying the Assyrian Empire and settling northern Mesopotamia along with their Aramaic-speaking Chaldean (Babylonian) allies in the 7th century BC.[Citation Needed] Later, in the 6th century BC, in self-defence against Assyrian (Babylonian) aggression, they recruited their Persian ally and young Cyrus "The Great" as leader of the allied forces[1], which later resulted in the fall of the city of Babylon and conquest of said empire.
Many modern Iranians and Kurds identify with the Medes.
Government
The Median kingdom was ruled in the fashion of a traditional tyranny/monarchy, with its capital in Ecbatana.
Military Activity
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Defence against Babylon
This campaign, recorded in great detail in Xenophon's Cyropedia, tells the story of what began as a defence of the homeland under the traditionally unrecognised son and successor of Astyages (see chart), and quickly became an offensive defence resulting in the death of the "Assyrian King" and the birth of the renown of Cyrus "the Great".
Modern customs said to originate with the Medes
Xenophon asserted that the tradition of holding a wine glass with three fingers[Citation Needed] (and therefore of necessity the cup style) originated amidst the Medes. He also claimed that the classic royal cape of scarlet and purple with fine white fur trim is of Median origin.
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