The Achaemenid Empire refers to the following that existed in the ancient Orient, which is now the Middle East and Egypt.
- Dynasty
- Empire
- Nomadic state
Achaemenid Empire is simply called the "Persian Empire".
The Persians built it and unified the Orient world.
Although it became a vast world empire during the reign of Darius the Great, it was finally destroyed by the expeditionary forces of Alexander the Great.
I will discuss the history of Achaemenid Persia in more detail!
Cyrus the Great
When Cyrus the Great was born, Achaemenid Persia was only a small kingdom attached to the Kingdom of Media.
The Kingdom of Media was a major power along with Egypt and Neo Babylonia.
Cyrus II ascended to the throne as the seventh king of Persia, and later revolted against Media and destroyed it.
He also destroyed other countries including Neo Babylonia.
To learn more about Cyrus II,
5 facts about Cyrus the Great in history
Cyrus II was the first king of Achaemenid Empire. His achievement was to establish a great empire. In addition, he had a spectacular childhood past!
Please read this article.
Cambyses II
After the death of Cyrus the Great, his son Cambyses II ascended the throne, annexed Egypt, and unified the ancient Orient.
However, he failed to invade Ethiopia.
Then Cambyses II murders his brother Smerdis.
To learn more about Cambyses II including the shocking story of his brother's murder,
Who is Cambyses II of the Achaemenid Persia?
Cambyses II was born as the eldest son of Cyrus II and he related to the succession to the throne of Darius the Great. More about Cambyses II here!
Please read this article.
After the death of Cambyses II, many things happened, and as a result, Darius the Great became the next king.
Darius the Great
After Darius the Great ascended to the throne, he was forced to put down rebellions that broke out all over the empire.
Together with his son, Xerxes I, he planned the conquest of Greece and launched the Greco-Persian Wars.
To learn more about Darius the Great,
8 major accomplishments of Darius the Great
Darius the Greart, the third Achaemenid Persian king, was the catalyst for the Persian Wars. This article is an easy-to-understand explanation of him!
Please read the article here.
After the death of Darius the Great, the Greco-Persian Wars continued.
His son, Xerxes I also fought several times against the Greek allied forces, but in the end, the war ended in failure.
To learn more about the Greco-Persian Wars,
Explain Greco-Persian Wars summary in order
The Greco-Persian Wars were fought between the Persian army and the Greek confederacy. If you're not familiar with it, please check this article here!
Please read the article here.
Fall of the Persian Empire
The Persian Empire had enormous wealth that the Greeks envied.
After the Peloponnesian War, the Persian Empire used its wealth to interfere in the Greek world.
To learn more about the Peloponnesian War,
Which side won the Peloponnesian War?
Please read the article here.
Let the Greeks fight each other and aim where they fall together.
Such was the ruse in the Persian empire.
On the other hand, the internal politics of the Persian Empire was plagued by rebellions in Asia Minor.
There was also a struggle for the succession to the throne.
Then, in the reign of Darius III, the last king, he was defeated in the Battle of Gaugamela against Alexander the Great.
At the same time, Achaemenid Empire also fell.
To learn more about the Battle of Gaugamela,
Battle of Issus and Battle of Gaugamela summary
Both the Battle of Issus and the Battle of Gaugamela were fought between Macedonia and Achaemenid Empire. These battles are described together!
Please read this article.
Achaemenid Empire fell, but Alexander the Great married the daughter of Darius III.
I will take over the Achaemenid system of governance.
He was attempting to do so.
To learn more about Alexander the Great,
Please read these articles.
There are still numerous other histories of the Mesopotamian civilization.
To learn more about the history of the Mesopotamian civilization,
What is the Mesopotamian civilization?
Please also read this article.