The Formation of Achaemenid Essay

The Persian Empire is arguably one of the greatest and largest empires ever in the history of the world. It was in place from approximately 550 to 334 BCE in Asia Minor and Persia. Throughout the time the empire was in place there were multiple kings that ruled it changing the cultures of the people living in the empire. The Book of Ester is a book from the Hebrew Bible written during the fourth century BCE that tells the story of a Persian king Achashvairosh. In the story information is given on how Persian Kings were able rule their vast empire for such a long period of time. The Persian Kings that ruled the Persian Empire were able to do their job successfully, deal with problems they faced, and keep their empire culturally vast because

In the Middle Kingdom 2100–1650 B.C.E. Trade was imperative with their neighbors, that included Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Crete, and Nubia became more widespread. Religion became more democratic in its view of who can go into the afterlife. The New Kingdom began after the defeat of the Hyksos invaders in 1500. It lasted through the years of imperial wars in opposition to the Hittites and other for the control of Mesopotamia, which ended with the retreat of Egypt that caused the Egyptian civilization to support the invasion of

The Persian Empire was ruled by Darius I. He was building the administrative systems, meaning he was reorganized the empire. He started twenty

     The ancient Greek and Roman civilizations of Europe began to progress toward a more civilized order of society. As there were no previous establishment to base their ideals on, it was understandable that there were some difficulties in their progression as a society. Although the ancient Greek and Roman governments fell, both had similar paths of creation, conquest, and destruction.

Cyrus the Great’s(C. 600-530 BCE) expansion started in Persia, located on the southern portion of the Iranian peninsula, Cyrus conquered the Medes, led by King Astyages, circa 559 BCE in the northern part of the peninsula. From there, he moved into Ecbatana to take over the Medes. He united the them with

The Parthians, based in Iran, extend to Mesopotamia. They were seminomadic Parthians that drove the Seleucus out of Iran. They had a federated governmental structure and had especially strong cavalry:

A man named Cyrus overthrew the Persian monarch and became the forefather of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. He united the Persian tribes and conquered Lydia, as well as Mesopotamia later on in his rule.

Cyrus II the Great is credited as the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus II reigned from 558-530 B.C.E. Cyrus II took control of the weakened Assyrian and Babylonian empires through his powerful, strategic military. Under Cyrus II’s rule, the empire’s military expanded and conquered most of Asia and parts of Europe creating the largest empire in the world during this time period. Cyrus II led his kingdom by respecting the religions and customs of the people he conquered. Cyrus II was successful in molding a centralized administration and creating a stable, working government. His achievements involving military strategy, politics, and human rights impacted and influenced not only the Achaemenid Empire but both Western and Eastern Civilizations. Cyrus II fell wounded while protecting the northeastern border of his empire from raiders ending his reign.

The world’s earliest civilization developed in an ancient region called Mesopotamia. Iraq, eastern Syria, and southeastern Turkey are modern countries included in the region. The name Mesopotamia comes from a Greek word that means between rivers. Since the heart of the region was the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, its name is Mesopotamia.

In the south, a culture known as the Kassite ruled Babylonia, the Kassites were heavily into trade and had to defend Babylonia from invaders but did not pursue international conquest. In the North, the Assyrians originated from Tigris and were heavy into the trade of tin for silver.

Assyria is a major Mesopotamian East Semitic kingdom and empire of the Ancient Near East, existed as an independent state for a period of approximately nineteen centuries, from the 25th century BCE to the 6th century BCE, spanning the mid to Early Bronze Age through to the late Iron Age. (Humanities 26) “For a short time the Assyrians became the first people to rule both Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Assyrians came to rule powerful empires at several times. As mentioned in class by (Mesner 08-28-2015) “the Make up a substantial part of the greater Mesopotamian "cradle of civilization," which included Sumer, Akkad and much later Babylonia, Assyria was at the height

Long before the great king, Cyrus’ death the Persian Empire had reached the milestone that allowed it to be the first empire that was so large. Cyrus had a son, who took over the throne in 530 B.C.E., named Cambyses II. Cambyses would show the same ambition we saw in his father. In 525 B.C.E he added Egypt to the Persian Empire. His victory was not to be enjoyed for long. He died in 522 B.C.E. and it is assumed that he may have died from a sword wound. This wound is believed to be accidental. Although, his death was not mourned for like that of his father. This may have been due to his

Iran was included in the territory of what was then the ancient Persian Empire. For centuries Iran (land of the Aryans) was also referred to as Persia, which was the official name until 1935. Fourteen years had passed before the Iranian government allowed the use of both names. Few groups of people today have significant history like the Iranians, descending from the ancient Persians, who possess one of the world’s richest and oldest cultures. Historically, a variety of other cultures and groups had once occupied the ancient Iranian plateau as early as 4,000 B.C.E, with little importance. Beginning by the third millennium, Persia was ruled by some of the greatest kings of all time, from Cyrus the Great to Darius the III, who turned the

Throughout time there have been a number of Persian Empires, but none of them can compare to the great Achaemenid Empire, which ruled between 550 to 330BC. The Achaemenid Empire is known as the largest empire in Ancient history which stretched out approximately 8 million km² at the height of its power. So how does an Empire so large and with such great power collapse? Was it struggle for power, which every new king had to suffer after the death of Darius the Great? Or was it because of corruption of the ministers and Satraps that made the empire decline. Maybe it could have been the invading Greek forces lead by Phillip the II of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great or are all these to blame?

Sumer is the earliest civilization known to mankind, stretched from the first settlement of Eridu until the rise of Assyria and Babylon. Akkadian Empire on the other hand, was regarded as the world’s first empire until it was split into Assyria and Babylonia. At the east of Sumer and Akkad, is ancient Elam. Before Elam was part of the Assyrian Empire in the 9th to 7th centuries BC, it is the kingdoms on the Iranian plateau. From 3200 BC to 2700 BC, where the proto-Elamite civilization was heavily influenced by the cultures of the iranian plateau was characterized as the Banesh period. The Amorites, nomadic Semitic people, controlled the west of Euphrates from 3500 BC and eventually settled in Mesopotamia. Middle Bronze Age includes Assyria, Babylonia, Canan, and the Hittite Empire. Assyria became a powerhouse after enduring a short period of Mitanni domination, ruling much of the near east. Babylonia founded by Amorite tribes and was under the rule of Kassites for more than 4 centuries. Canaan was a combination of Ugarit, Kadesh, Megiddo, and Kingdom of Israel. The Hittite Empire dominated Asia minor and the Levant until it was taken over by