Persian Empire

The Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus the Great when he conquered the rival Medes and established the Achaemenid Dynasty. Darius I dramatically expanded Persian territory and invaded mainland Europe. Xerxes was repelled by Greek forces at the Battle of Salamis.

The term "Persian Empire" is a fairly broad term that refers to many different empires, most of which directly followed on from one another, that were centered in Persia (modern-day Iran). The first "Persian Empire" was probably the Achaemenid Empire that began in the year 550 C.E. with the conquests of Cyrus the Great. The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires are all other examples of "Persian Empires." The Ayyubid's however were a Kurdish dynasty formed by Saladin and centered in modern-day Egypt.

The Persian Empire was the most powerful in the known world for several generations in the centuries before the rise of Rome. It was based out of modern day Iran and indeed Iran is still called Persia in some languages and by some people. The Persian Empire is sometimes called the Achaemenid Empire.

Cyrus the Great is the founder of the great Achaemenid Empire of the ancient and classical Near East (later called the Persian Empire). Cyrus originated from Persis (the modern-day Iranian province of Fars) and as such has played an instrumental role in the development of contemporary Iranian national identity.

The ancient Persian Empire was vast, and administering the wide territory and diverse population required a unique administrative system. The Persian Emperors created satraps, or governors, to rule a political district on behalf of the emperor.

The Sasanid Empire, also called the Sassanian Empire, was the last dynasty of the Persian Empire. It collapsed in an incredibly brief period, less than a decade, in the seventh century as it was overtaken by the rise of Islam and invading Caliphates.