Medes

The Achaemid Family Tree showing the merging or the royal houses of the Medes and the Persians to create the Medo-Persian Empire; known to many as simply the Persian Empire.

The Medes, sometimes also known as Media were an ancient Indo-European population that originated from central Asia with their capital at Ecbatana. They became well known at the first from destroying the Assyrian Empire and settling Northern Mesopotamia along with their Aramaic speaking Chaldean (Babylonian) allies in the 7th century BC. Later in 6th century BC they participated in Cyrus campaigns and conquest of Babylon.

Many modern Kurds identify with the Medes.

Government

The Median kingdom was ruled in the fashion of a traditional tyranny/monarchy with its capital in Ecbatana.