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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]].
[[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.-224 A.D.) and the Sassanian (224-651) dynasties. 
==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.  


==Bible==
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.
==Later empire==
[[File:Map of Persia - Bahrein.jpg|thumb|240px|Map of the Persian Gulf, 1747.]]
The later Persian (Sasanian) Empire was founded by Ardashir I in 224 A.D., when he defeated the last Parthian king.<ref>Maria Brosius. ''The Persians; an Introduction''; Routledge; Oxon. 139, (2006)</ref> The Sasanian Empire was, like its Parthian predecessor, involved in a number of wars with the [[Roman Empire]], and in 260 even captured the Roman Emperor; Valerian.<ref>ibid. 145</ref>  The Sasanian empire outlived the Western [[Roman Empire]], but in 651 it fell to the Arabs.

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

==Further reading==
* Allen, Lindsay. ''The Persian Empire'' (2005)
* Holland, Tom. ''Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West'' (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/Persian-Fire-First-Empire-Battle/dp/0307279480/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259416793&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Katouzian, Homa. ''The Persians: Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Iran'' (2009), scholarly survey
*  Stierlin, Henri. ''Splendors of The Persian Empire'' (2006), art abd architecture

==References==
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[[Category:Ancient History]]
[[Category:Iran]]